SARS Issues Urgent Tax Return Warning to 850,000 South Africans
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a final reminder to taxpayers to submit their 2025 tax returns before the filing season closes on Monday, 20 October 2025.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter warned that failure to file is a serious legal offence that could lead to administrative penalties and interest charges. Only individuals earning less than R500,000 annually under specific conditions are exempt from filing.
“Filing a tax return is not voluntary—it’s a legal obligation,” SARS said.
More Than 850,000 Returns Still Outstanding
SARS reports that about 80% of taxpayers have already submitted their returns, including 6 million auto-assessed individuals. However, roughly 854,000 taxpayers have not yet filed.
The agency cautioned against last-minute submissions, warning that rushed filings often lead to mistakes and unnecessary stress.
“Submit returns while there is still time to think clearly and avoid errors,” SARS advised.
2025 Tax Season Deadlines:
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Auto-assessments: 7–20 July 2025
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Individuals: 21 July–20 October 2025
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Provisional taxpayers: 21 July 2025–19 January 2026
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Trusts: 20 September 2025–19 January 2026
SARS Tightens Rules on Filing Errors
SARS also warned that it will no longer be lenient on filing mistakes, following a new draft interpretation note clarifying which errors can be corrected without formal disputes.
The note reinforces that only “readily apparent” and “undisputed” factual errors qualify for correction—such as:
Errors involving interpretation, judgment, or complex reclassification will not qualify.
“Only obvious, factual mistakes qualify, and SARS must be satisfied before any reduced assessment is made.”
Taxpayers can request corrections using forms RRA01 (individuals) or RRA02 (companies) on eFiling, accompanied by clear explanations and supporting documents.
Bottom Line
With three days left in the filing season, SARS is urging taxpayers to act immediately to avoid penalties, delays, and rejected corrections later.
“We will continue to identify and act against those who do not meet their tax obligations,” Kieswetter said.
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