Tasleem Gierdien10 July 2025 | 11:42

SARS expects 4.8m taxpayers to form part of 2025 auto-assessments

If you've not been selected for an auto-assessment, you will be able to submit your tax return manually from 21 July until 20 October, explains Ronald Matande (Financial Planning Institute of SA).

CapeTalk and 702's Africa Melane talks to Ronald Matande from the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa.

Listen below:

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced the official start of the 2025 Filing Season, effective from 7 July 2025 to 20 October 2025.

Auto-assessments are underway for South Africans who have been selected for the process.

SARS expects about 4.8 million South Africans to form part of the auto-assessment pool this year.

Matande explains some changes for taxpayers this tax season:

SARS expanded foreign tax credits. If you're earning income from abroad, SARS has expanded the amount of tax you're able to claim against your overall income in South Africa.
The definition of a 'provisional taxpayer'.
Trusts and executors: If you're a married trustee, 50% of that income goes to your spouse.
Expanded auto-assessment: more people are being invited to opt in to the process.

"It does not mean that if you're not invited to be part of the auto-assessment, you do not benefit from third-party information that's populated with your income tax return from institutions like your employer, banks, medical schemes, etc, that still happens. SARS still collects all that information because it's pre-populated. It's an opportunity to submit additional information so that you submit an accurate tax return."

- Ronald Matande, Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.