The South African Revenue Service (SARS) 2026 tax filing season will officially commence on July 1, 2026, for auto-assessments and July 13, 2026, for manual filers, running until early 2027 depending on your taxpayer category.
The specific dates and deadlines for the 2026 tax season are outlined below:
| Taxpayer Category | Opening Date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Assessments | July 1, 2026 | July 12, 2026 |
| Non-Provisional Individuals | July 13, 2026 | October 23, 2026 |
| Provisional Taxpayers | July 13, 2026 | January 22, 2027 |
| Trusts | July 13, 2026 | January 22, 2027 |
Key Changes and Requirements for 2026
- Auto-Assessments: SARS will issue auto-assessments via SMS or email between July 1 and July 12. You must review the assessment on SARS eFiling or the MobiApp. If you agree, you do not need to do anything. If you disagree, you must file a return with supporting documents by October 23, 2026.
- New Features: The ITR12 form has been simplified with prefilled investment income, better residency guidance, and new declaration alerts to reduce the need for verifications.
- WhatsApp Services: You can now receive your Notice of Assessment (ITA34) via WhatsApp, and upload supporting documents directly through it.