As the 2025 tax season approaches, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has rolled out a new eFiling feature—‘Express Access’—to make tax compliance simpler and more accessible for everyday taxpayers.
This user-friendly tool has been built with taxpayers in mind, streamlining the eFiling process, particularly for the over 5 million individuals expected to be auto-assessed. Through Express Access, taxpayers can easily:
According to tax professionals, the new feature significantly reduces the complexity of navigating SARS systems, enabling individuals to resolve both current and historical compliance issues with ease. It also allows users to update important information—like contact details and banking info—which they are legally required to do within 21 working days of any changes, as stipulated by the Tax Administration Act.
The Express Access feature also empowers users to review and respond to their auto-assessments, choosing to accept or amend them based on whether all income for the 2025 tax year (March 1, 2024 – February 28, 2025) has been properly declared. SARS will begin issuing auto-assessments from 7 July 2025.
In addition to easing tax filing, Express Access offers an opportunity to correct previous non-compliance, helping users avoid penalties and navigate the system more effectively.
SARS maintains that its goal is to assist honest taxpayers in fulfilling their legal obligations. The rollout of Express Access reflects this commitment by offering clarity, simplicity, and support throughout the filing process. The feature is expected to benefit both SARS—through improved revenue collection—and taxpayers, who can more easily stay compliant.
In the previous tax year, nearly 5 million taxpayers benefited from auto-assessments. These assessments, generated using third-party data (such as employer and medical aid records), had a 98% acceptance rate, with fewer than 1% of recipients making changes.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has emphasized a more taxpayer-friendly approach to compliance, previously introducing SMS and call-based outreach. The latest step—Express Access—marks a further evolution in this strategy.
Given SARS’ increasingly rigorous audit and verification practices, taxpayers are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified tax practitioner to ensure their assessments are accurate and up to date, particularly when dealing with prior-year income that may have been overlooked.
