South Africa’s tax season for individuals is officially open — and it’s simpler than many people think. If you earned any income between 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025, SARS expects you to file your return during the 2025 filing window, which runs until 20 October 2025.

This includes salary earners, freelancers, commission earners, and anyone who changed jobs during the year.

If you earned a salary, did part-time work, received allowances, or had multiple employers — you must submit a return. Even if you think your tax was “already deducted”, SARS still needs your information to ensure everything matches their records.

• Full-time employees
• People who changed jobs
• Freelancers and side-hustle earners
• Commission earners
• Anyone with multiple sources of income

Your IRP5 is your official “salary report card” from your employer. It tells SARS exactly how much you earned and how much tax was deducted.

You must receive an IRP5 from each employer you worked for between March 2024 and February 2025. If you had two or more employers, expect two or more IRP5s — simple.

• No IRP5 = no accurate filing.
• If your employer hasn’t issued it, remind them — it’s a legal requirement.

Before submitting your return, make sure you have:

• Your IRP5(s)
• Medical aid tax certificates (if applicable)
• Retirement annuity tax certificates
• Travel logbooks (if you receive a travel allowance)
• Any additional income or expense proof (freelancers)

SARS has made filing much easier. You can submit your return through:

• SARS eFiling – the official online portal
• SARS MobiApp – file using your phone
• A registered tax practitioner – if you prefer help

Most taxpayers will find that SARS pre-loads their IRP5 information automatically — your job is simply to check that everything is correct.

The important date to remember is:

• 20 October 2025 – for non-provisional taxpayers

If you miss the deadline, SARS can charge penalties — which is why filing early is always a smart move.

Tax season doesn’t need to be stressful. With the right documents — especially your IRP5 — you can complete your return in minutes. And if you need help, Ayirhubhe Consulting is here to make the process smooth, accurate, and stress-free.

Need assistance with filing? Contact us and we’ll handle the entire process for you.