The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has confirmed that the 2026 tax filing season will begin on 1 July 2026, starting with an Auto Assessment phase for eligible taxpayers.
SARS Commissioner South African Revenue Service said the phased approach is intended to ease pressure on systems and improve efficiency.
“Filing season does not open to everyone at the same time,” Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu said, explaining that the Auto Assessment period will run from 1 to 12 July, followed by the main filing period from 13 July to 23 October 2026.
He said taxpayers selected for auto assessment will be notified and should not visit SARS offices unnecessarily: “If they are satisfied that the information reflected is complete and correct, they do not need to do anything — tax just happens for them.”
Makhubu added that refunds, where due, will be processed within 72 hours if all information is correct, with SARS urging taxpayers to ensure their details are up to date ahead of the season.
The tax authority expects about six million auto assessments during the first phase.
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