{"id":828879,"date":"2025-06-23T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=828879"},"modified":"2025-06-23T09:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T07:37:05","slug":"sars-announces-efiling-change-for-tax-season-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/finance\/828879\/sars-announces-efiling-change-for-tax-season-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"SARS announces eFiling change for tax season 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is introducing a new feature called ‘Express Access’ to its eFiling systems for tax season 2025, which should make it much easier for taxpayers to process their auto assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the service, income taxpayers should see a new ‘Express’ tab on their eFiling landing page that will make their Personal Income Tax returns more easily accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new functionality will let taxpayers quickly view their 2025 auto assessment, submit previous years’ returns, submit the current year’s returns and update personal banking details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SARS said that the update aligns with its strategic objectives to provide modernised and streamlined services and provide clarity and certainty of tax obligations for taxpayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also part of the taxman’s wider simplification processes, which drive taxpayer compliance and ensure that its other automated processes go through faster and smoother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The focus on giving taxpayers quick access to their auto assessments is key, as the service expects to process a record number of these tax assessments in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auto assessments will start rolling out two weeks ahead of the opening of filing season, starting 7 July, where taxpayers with simpler tax affairs can resolve their returns quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auto-assessed taxpayers will find their tax returns already populated with third-party data sourced by SARS, with no need to manually submit a return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the assessment is accepted, there is no need for any further action, and the tax refund, if applicable, will be paid into the taxpayer’s account, typically within 72 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If money is owed to SARS, taxpayers will be prompted to make payments via eFiling or the MobiApp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if the auto-assessment is not accepted, taxpayers will have to reject it and submit a manual return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The applicable tax dates can be seen below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tax season 2025 dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Income Taxpayer<\/th>Open<\/th>Close<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Auto-Assessments<\/td>7 July 2025<\/td>20 July 2025<\/td><\/tr>
Individual<\/td>21 July 2025<\/td>20 October 2025<\/td><\/tr>
Provisional<\/td>21 July 2025<\/td>19 January 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Trusts<\/td>21 July 2025<\/td>19 January 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your details are correct<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another focus of the new Express tab is for taxpayers to update their contact and banking details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SARS previously warned taxpayers to ensure that their banking details are correct, as the incorrect account data could lead to delays in getting tax refunds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This would it necessitate manual action from taxpayers who have been auto-assessed, countering the benefits of the process being automated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, SARS said that it is also crucial to have up-to-date contact details as the tax service will communicate critical updates and information to taxpayers exclusively through digital channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These channels are also used for additional security features, such as OTPs, it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Missing updates from SARS could carry severe consequences if they contain requests that require timeous action, such as a request for supporting documentation or for payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication from SARS often contains time-sensitive information, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n