3 Reasons WHY you may not be eligible for a SARS refund

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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) tax filing season is in full swing, with auto-assessments currently taking place. Many South Africans are expecting to receive a hefty refund for their non-provisional earnings over the last year. But this isn’t always the case….

SARS RETURNS: WHY YOU MAY NOT GET A REFUND

On social media, many South Africans have been celebrating the imminent opening of the SARS filing season. The tax administration company has already begun the process of auto-assessments, which take place between 7 and 20 July.

For some, this means a welcome refund, i.e., extra cash, for overpaid personal income taxes in the assessment year from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025.

But not everybody will receive a refund. Here is why….

Your employer has correctly calculated your tax deductions, or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax. Overcalculating or overtaxing equates to SARS paying you a refund. On the flip side, if your employer underpaid your PAYE, you are liable to pay a tax penalty directly to SARS.

You do not have allowable deductions like medical expenses, retirement funds, charitable contributions, and unreimbursed job expenses.

You did not work a whole year,and your PAYE calculations by your employer are accurate.

IMPORTANT DATES TO DIARISE

Here’s what to expect from the 2025 SARS tax filing season…

  • Auto-assessments: 7 – 20 July 2025
  • Filing season opens for non-provisional taxpayers who were not auto-assessed: 21 July – 20 October 2025
  • Provisional taxpayers (people with multiple income streams): 21 July – 19 January 2026

ARE YOU EXPECTING A SARS REFUND THIS TAX FILING SEASON?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to060 011 021 1.

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