In a move set to simplify tax filing for millions of South Africans, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the rollout of a new ‘Express Access’ feature on its eFiling platform ahead of the 2025 tax season.
The new functionality is aimed at providing faster, easier, and more intuitive navigation for individual taxpayers – especially those eligible for SARS’ growing auto-assessment system.
What is ‘Express Access’?
Launching with the 2025 filing season, the ‘Express’ tab will appear directly on the taxpayer’s eFiling landing page.
It will serve as a one-stop hub for:
- Viewing auto-assessments for 2025
- Submitting current or previous years’ tax returns
- Updating personal and banking information quickly
SARS said the move aligns with its broader goals of modernising tax administration, improving voluntary compliance, and creating clarity and certainty for taxpayers.
Record auto-assessments expected
With auto-assessments continuing to expand, SARS is gearing up to process a record number of automated returns this year.
Starting on Monday, 7 July, taxpayers with straightforward tax profiles will receive pre-populated returns based on third-party data from banks, employers, and financial institutions.
If the information is accurate, all the taxpayer needs to do is accept the assessment.
A refund – if applicable – will then be paid within 72 hours.
If SARS is owed money, the platform will provide seamless payment options through eFiling or the MobiApp.
Should the taxpayer dispute any part of the auto-assessment, they can reject it and file a manual return.
Key dates for tax season 2025
| Taxpayer type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-assessments | 7 July 2025 | 20 July 2025 |
| Individuals | 21 July 2025 | 20 October 2025 |
| Provisional | 21 July 2025 | 19 January 2026 |
| Trusts | 21 July 2025 | 19 January 2026 |
Update your banking and contact details
SARS has also urged all taxpayers to verify and update their banking and contact details, highlighting that incorrect information could result in delayed refunds or failed communications.
“Without correct contact details, taxpayers may miss critical messages, such as audit notifications, payment reminders, or penalty notices,” the agency warned.
Missing these could lead to penalties, legal action, or loss of tax compliance status.
SARS on the future of tax
In a statement, SARS said that ‘Express Access’ is part of its larger digital transformation strategy.
“Our aim is to provide effortless digital engagement and ensure taxpayers can fulfil their obligations quickly and securely,” the agency noted.
The tax authority has also committed to continued investment in automated systems, secure messaging, and real-time verifications to further reduce errors, delays, and compliance risks.
Are you ready for the 2025 tax season?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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