Stay Ahead This Tax Season – You Could Pay Less!
Tax season in South Africa is officially underway—SARS kicks off auto‑assessment notifications from 7–20 July 2025, with individual filing open 21 July–20 October 2025. To increase the security on SARS e-Filing, an OTP will be required for logins every time. If your tax affairs are straightforward, you might receive an instant pre‑filled return—no forms, no guesswork.
How to Legally Reduce What You Pay
Maximize Retirement & Tax‑Free Savings
Contribute up to 27.5% of taxable income (max R350 000/year) to your Retirement Annuity - it lowers your taxable income directly.
Invest R36 000/year in a Tax‑Free Investment (up to R500 000 lifetime). Growth, dividends, and capital gains are completely tax‑free.
Stop Withdrawing Prematurely
Borrowing from these accounts undercuts compounding benefits and can incur penalties - these tools work best when left untouched until retirement. This includes any withdrawals from a Savings Component which is taxed at marginal rates.
Claim Every Deduction & Rebate You’re Owed
Experts remind us: "claim key deductions and rebates to reduce your tax burden." Don’t leave it on the table.
What SARS Is Changing This Year
Auto‑assessment is expanding - more people qualify, and you can be eligible even if you're a provisional taxpayer. Read More
Express Access via eFiling makes revising and uploading documents easier than ever.
New IRP5/IT3(a) codes to account for:
Foreign tax credits (carry them forward up to 6 years),
Back‑dated salary or pension,
Dividends and residency statuses - so your return reflects your full situation.
Trust income: Married taxpayers with trust income will now have a 50% communal estate share - another detail to check.
So What Should You Do Now?
✅ Check if you qualify for auto‑assessment through your eFiling profile. SARS will make contact if you have been auto-assessed.
✅ Max out contributions to your RA and TFI while preserving compounding power in the current tax year.
✅ Catalogue every rebate! Medical, travel, dependents, retirement, donations - tick every box if applicable.
✅ Explore the eFiling changes - Express Access and fresh IRP5 codes can smooth filing.
✅ Review trust and foreign‑income impacts if relevant.
Why Now?
Bracket creep and unchanged rebates mean many taxpayers face a stealthier tax bite in 2025 - even without earning more. Don’t be surprised - be prepared, and keep more of your money.
Ready To Get It Done?
We’re here to help you:
Review your prior year tax return,
Set up smart deductions and contributions,
Walk you through eFiling step-by-step,
Optimize for 2025 and beyond.