The South African Revenue Service (SARS) tax filing season is officially in progress, with the auto-assessment process currently taking place. While many South Africans are hoping for a generous refund from the past tax year, it’s important to understand that not all taxpayers will receive one.
Why You Might Not Get a Refund
Excitement around filing season has been growing on social media, especially as SARS began issuing auto-assessments from 7 July, with the process set to continue until 20 July. These assessments apply to the 2024/2025 tax year, covering earnings from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025.
For some, this may result in a tax refund due to overpaid income tax. However, several factors could mean you won’t receive any money back.
- If your employer accurately calculated your Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions throughout the year, there’s no overpayment to be refunded.
- Refunds typically occur when there’s an over-deduction — if PAYE was underpaid, you may in fact owe SARS money.
- Not claiming allowable deductions — such as for medical expenses, retirement contributions, charitable donations, or unreimbursed work-related costs — can also affect your refund eligibility.
- If you didn’t work the full tax year, and your PAYE deductions were correct, a refund is unlikely.
Key Dates for the 2025 Tax Season
Taxpayers should take note of the following important dates:
- Auto-assessments: 7 – 20 July 2025
- Manual filing for non-provisional taxpayers (not auto-assessed): 21 July – 20 October 2025
- Provisional taxpayers (with multiple income sources): 21 July 2025 – 19 January 2026
Understanding how SARS assessments work can help you manage your expectations, and ensure you’re fully prepared for any outcome.
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