When the 2026 filing season opens tomorrow, millions of South Africans will receive a Sars auto-assessment based on data Sars already holds. Sars has enhanced parts of its auto-assessment process and online tax assistant, TaxTim advises taxpayers to do a careful review before accepting. If you don’t respond, Sars treats that as agreement.
When the 2026 filing season opens today, millions of South Africans will receive a Sars auto-assessment based on data Sars already holds. Sars has enhanced parts of its auto-assessment process and online tax assistant, TaxTim, advises taxpayers to do a careful review before accepting. If you don’t respond, Sars treats that as agreement.
Sars has confirmed that 2026 auto-assessments will be issued from July 1 to 12, 2026. Taxpayers who are not auto-assessed, or who disagree with theirs, can file from July 13, with a deadline of October 23, 2026 for non-provisional individuals.
For 2026, Sars has enhanced its system's capabilities. Enhancements include pre-filled third-party data, such as investment income; a simplified return with clearer questions; a dropdown of approved medical-aid schemes to reduce errors; delivery of assessment notices via WhatsApp; and a new declaration alert questionnaire intended to reduce the number of returns flagged for verification.
