Tax season arrives every year, and every year many people leave it to the last day. A calm start, with the right documents, makes it much easier.
Here is a guide to the 2026 tax season: the dates, who files, what to gather and how to avoid penalties.
What are the SARS tax season 2026 dates?
SARS publishes these dates for the 2026 filing season, which covers the tax year 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2026:
| Who | Dates |
|---|---|
| Auto-assessments | 1 to 12 July 2026 |
| Non-provisional individuals | 13 July to 23 October 2026 |
| Provisional taxpayers | 13 July 2026 to 22 January 2027 |
| Trusts | 19 September 2026 to 22 January 2027 |
If you are not a provisional taxpayer, 23 October 2026 is your deadline. Dates change every year, so check SARS for the current ones.
Who needs to file?
Whether you must submit a return depends on your income and circumstances, and SARS sets the rules each year. Some people are automatically assessed. Others must file.
If you earn above the threshold, have more than one source of income, earn outside employment or want to claim deductions, check the SARS rules.
What documents should you gather?
| Document | Where you get it |
|---|---|
| IRP5 or IT3(a) | Your employer |
| Medical aid tax certificate | Your medical scheme |
| Retirement annuity certificate | Your RA provider |
| Interest and investment certificates | Your bank or investment provider |
| Travel logbook | You, if you claim business travel |
| Proof of other deductions | Receipts and statements |
See reading your payslip for how tax appears on a payslip.
How does the process work?
- Check your auto-assessment, if you receive one. Do not accept it blindly. Make sure it includes all your income and deductions.
- Log in to eFiling or the SARS app.
- Complete or edit the return, using your documents.
- Submit before the deadline.
- Check the assessment. If you disagree, you can object.
What deductions can reduce your tax?
Common ones include retirement annuity contributions (within limits), medical aid tax credits and certain medical expenses, and some work-related costs. Limits and rules apply, and they change.
Keep your records organised through the year. A folder or a phone album with photos of receipts makes tax season a short job.
What happens if you file late?
SARS can charge penalties and interest. If you cannot file on time, contact SARS before the deadline.
How do you avoid tax season scams?
SARS does not ask for your password by email or SMS, and it does not send refund links. Log in through the official website or app only. See online loan scams for similar warning signs.
Do not pay anyone a fee to “release” a refund.
What if you get a refund?
See using your SARS tax refund. If you owe, arrange payment with SARS.
How do you check an auto-assessment in five steps?
SARS issues auto-assessments to some taxpayers before the filing window opens. Treat it as a draft, not as the final answer.
- Log in to eFiling or the SARS app and open the assessment.
- Compare the income with your IRP5 or IT3(a) certificates. Every employer and every source should be there.
- Check the deductions for retirement annuity contributions, medical expenses and anything else you can claim.
- Decide: accept it, or edit it to add what is missing.
- Submit by the deadline for your category, and keep proof.
If something is missing, edit the return and add it. Accepting an auto-assessment that leaves out income can lead to trouble later, and one that leaves out deductions costs you money.
What can deductions save you in tax season?
Here is a hypothetical example, using an assumed marginal rate of 31%.
| Deduction | Amount in the year | Possible tax saved |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement annuity, R1,500 a month | R18,000 | about R5,580 |
These figures show why contributions matter, but the rules decide how much counts. For retirement annuities, SARS allows a deduction up to a percentage of income, subject to a rand cap.
Check the current limits before you plan, and ask a tax practitioner if your situation is complicated. Keep certificates and receipts, because SARS may ask to see them.
How do you read an IRP5 without a headache?
An IRP5 is the summary of your pay and tax for the year. You do not need to understand every code. Find these lines first:
| Line | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Gross remuneration | What you earned before deductions |
| PAYE | Tax your employer paid to SARS for you |
| UIF | Your contribution |
| Retirement fund contributions | May be deductible |
| Medical aid contributions | May give a tax credit |
If a figure looks wrong, ask HR to check it before you submit. Mistakes by an employer are easier to fix early than after SARS has assessed you.
What if you disagree with your assessment?
You can object. Your assessment explains how, and there is a time limit that is measured in business days from the date of the assessment, so act promptly. Gather your documents, explain what is wrong and ask SARS to correct it.
If you are not sure, a registered tax practitioner can help. Check that the practitioner is registered with SARS and a recognised body before you share your details.
What does it cost if you file late?
SARS can charge administrative penalties for each month that a return is outstanding. The amounts start from a few hundred rand a month and increase with income. Interest can also apply to tax that is paid late.
If you cannot file or pay on time, contact SARS before the deadline and ask about an arrangement. A late return is cheaper to fix than a long-ignored one. See using your SARS tax refund for what to do if SARS owes you instead.
What should you do right after you submit during tax season?
Submitting is not the end. Download or screenshot the confirmation, and keep it with your documents. Watch for the assessment, which usually arrives within days or weeks, and check it against your return.
If a refund is due, confirm your banking details. If tax is due, note the payment date and pay on time.
Put a reminder in your phone for the next tax season, and keep your certificates in one folder through the year, so that next year’s return is shorter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file myself?
Yes. Most people can file through eFiling or the SARS app. Use a tax practitioner for complex returns.
What if I made a mistake?
You can usually correct it. Contact SARS or use the objection process after your assessment.
When is the deadline?
For non-provisional individuals in 2026, 23 October 2026. Check SARS each year.
Do I have to file every year?
Not always. Check if you are required to file, or if SARS auto-assesses you.
Do I need a tax practitioner for tax season?
Not usually. Many people file through eFiling or the SARS app. A practitioner helps with complex income, such as rental income or business profits.
What if I received an auto-assessment and agree with it?
You can accept it, and you may not need to do anything else. Check it first, because it may leave out income or deductions.
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