When is tax filing season in South Africa?

For individual taxpayers it opens each year around July and runs to roughly late October for non-provisional taxpayers, with provisional taxpayers getting until January. SARS announces the exact dates annually.

Do I even need to file a return?

Not everyone does — if you earn a single salary under the announced threshold with no extra income or deductions to claim, you may be exempt or covered by an auto-assessment. If you want to claim medical, RA or travel deductions, you must file.

What is an auto-assessment?

SARS pre-fills your return from employer, medical scheme and bank data and issues an assessment without you filing. Check it against your own certificates — if something is missing (like RA contributions), file a corrected return, because auto-assessments only know what was reported to SARS.

How long does a refund take?

If nothing is flagged, refunds are often paid within a few business days of assessment. Verification or audit selection can stretch this to weeks — correct bank details and matching certificates are the best way to avoid delays.

Filing season checklist

Everything to gather before you open eFiling — with what each document is actually for. Ticks save on this device, so you can come back as certificates arrive.

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Before you start

Check if SARS auto-assessed youMany salaried people get an auto-assessment via SMS/email early in filing season. If the figures match your documents, you may not need to file at all — but verify before accepting.

Make sure you can log into eFiling (or the SARS MobiApp)Reset your password now, not on deadline day. If you have never registered, you need your ID and proof of bank details.

Confirm your bank details on eFiling are currentRefunds go to the account SARS has on file. Wrong details mean a verification process that can take weeks.

Income documents

IRP5 from your employerThe certificate of your salary and the PAYE already deducted. Usually pre-loaded into eFiling — check it matches your final February payslip.

IRP5 from any employer you left during the yearIf you changed jobsChanged jobs? You need a certificate from each employer for the same tax year.

IT3(b) — interest and dividendsIf you have savings or investmentsFrom every bank and investment platform. Interest above the exempt threshold is taxable, and SARS already has these figures — yours must match.

IT3(c) — capital gainsIf you sold shares/ETFsIssued if you sold investments during the year. The first R40,000 of gains each year is excluded.

Records of freelance or side-hustle incomeIf you have side incomeInvoices and statements for any income outside your salary, plus receipts for the expenses you are deducting against it.

Deduction documents

Medical scheme tax certificateIf you are on medical aidShows your premiums and who was on your scheme — the basis of your medical tax credits. Your scheme emails it around June/July.

Receipts for out-of-pocket medical costsIf you paid cash for healthcareQualifying expenses your scheme did not cover can add to the additional medical credit. Keep pharmacy and doctor receipts.

RA contribution certificateIf you contribute to a private RAFrom your retirement annuity provider — this is what unlocks your deduction (up to 27.5% of income, R350,000 cap). Payroll pension contributions are already on your IRP5.

IT3(s) — TFSA certificateIf you have a TFSAConfirms your tax-free contributions. Nothing to deduct, but SARS uses it to police the R36,000/R500,000 limits.

Travel logbookIf you get a travel allowanceOnly if you receive a travel allowance or company car. No logbook, no deduction — SARS is strict on this one.

Home office recordsIf you qualify for home officeA narrow deduction with strict requirements (dedicated space, mostly used for work, letter from employer). Gather floor-area numbers and running-cost invoices before claiming.

After you file

Read your ITA34 assessmentIt tells you whether you owe SARS or SARS owes you, and whether you have been selected for verification.

Keep every document for 5 yearsSARS can ask you to prove any figure for five years after filing. A single cloud folder per tax year is the easiest habit.

Educational only — not financial advice

FirstCheque gives general information and estimates based on published SARS tables. It doesn't know your full situation and isn't advice under the FAIS Act. Confirm figures with SARS, your payroll department, or a registered financial adviser.

Filing season checklist

Before you start

Income documents

Deduction documents

After you file

Common questions