Do I need to file a tax return in South Africa?

You must file if you earn more than R500,000 per year, have more than one income source, or want to claim a refund. If you earn under R500,000 from a single employer, you may qualify for SARS auto-assessment.

How do I register for SARS eFiling?

Go to efiling.sars.gov.za and click Register. You will need your SA ID number, a tax reference number, and a valid email address. Alternatively visit any SARS branch with your ID and proof of address.

When is the tax return deadline in South Africa 2025?

The 2025 tax season runs from July to October 2025 for individual eFiling submissions. Provisional taxpayers have different deadlines: 31 August 2025 (first period) and 28 February 2026 (second period).

How long does SARS take to process a refund?

SARS typically processes tax refunds within 72 hours of a completed and accepted return for straightforward cases. More complex assessments can take up to 3 weeks. Ensure your banking details are correct on eFiling.

Free Tool

SARS Tax Calculator 2026/27

Enter your monthly salary. See your PAYE, UIF and take-home pay instantly — using official SARS 2026/27 tax brackets.

Monthly Gross Salary (ZAR)

Your Age

Medical Aid Members

Monthly Pension / RA Contribution (optional)

Reduces your taxable income. Max deductible: 27.5% of salary or R430,000/year.

calculate

Enter your salary above to see your breakdown

info

Using official SARS 2026/27 brackets (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027). Primary rebate R17,820 · Medical credit R376/person. See full tax tables

Quick examples — click to calculate

Tax Calculator FAQs

They are the same thing at different stages. Income tax is what you owe SARS for the year. PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is how your employer pays it monthly on your behalf. At year end, if your employer over-deducted, SARS refunds you. If under-deducted, you pay the shortfall after filing.

Pension, provident fund and RA contributions reduce your taxable income — the number SARS uses to calculate your tax. Contributing R2,000/month on a R25,000 salary means SARS taxes you on R23,000 instead. Limit: 27.5% of salary or R430,000/year, whichever is lower.

SARS gives you R376/month credit for yourself and your first dependant, and R254/month for each additional dependant (2026/27). This is deducted directly from your tax bill — 2 members saves you R752/month regardless of income. Select your members above to see the impact.

This uses basic salary only. Your payslip may differ if your package includes taxable benefits (company car, housing allowance, bonus), or if your employer applies a different tax directive. Use this as a planning guide — for exact figures check your IRP5 or payroll department.

Need the full tax guide?

eFiling steps, deadlines and bracket tables

Tax Guide