What’s New at SARS

31 December 2025 – South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R37.7 billion in November 2025. This surplus was attributable to exports of R188.0 billion and imports of R150.3 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).

See the full Media Release here.

Or visit the Trade Statistics webpage.

30 December 2025 – Income Tax Act, 1962

• Interpretation Note 91 (Issue 3) – Concession or compromise of a debt

30 December 2025 – Income Tax Act, 1962

• Interpretation Note 64 (Issue 5) – Income tax exemption: Bodies corporate, share block companies, and associations of persons managing the collective interests common to all members

30 December 2025 – Transfer Duty Act, 1949

• Interpretation Note 22 (Issue 6) – Transfer duty exemption: Public benefit organisations and institutions, boards, or bodies

30 December 2025 – Previous issues of the following Interpretation Notes have been archived:

• Interpretation Note 91 (Issue 2) – Concession or compromise of a debt
• Interpretation Note 64 (Issue 4) – Income tax exemption: Bodies corporate, share block companies, and associations of persons managing the collective interests common to all members
• Interpretation Note 22 (Issue 5) – Transfer duty exemption: Public benefit organisations and institutions, boards, or bodies

30 December 2025 – Income Tax Act, 1962

• Practice Note 31 of 1994 – Income Tax: Interest paid on moneys borrowed

Replaced by section 11G for years of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2026

30 December 2025 – With the anticipated high volume of traveller and trade movement expected as holidaymakers return, particularly through land border posts, airports, and harbours, we encourage both traders and travellers to leverage pre-clearance processes. By utilising the traveller online declaration system, traders and travellers can declare their goods in advance.

This approach makes it easier for both traders and travellers to meet their legal obligations while creating a seamless process at border points.

Using the traveller online declaration system can significantly reduces waiting and queuing times at ports of entry.

The SARS Traveller Declaration system can be accessed here.

The above Traveller Declaration system can also be accessed via the SARS eFiling MobiApp.

There will also be dedicated officials on the ground to assist with this process.

Your compliance is appreciated in maintaining seamless border operations.

24 December 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964

• Draft Forms – Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) Phase 2 Quarterly Account

Due date for comment: 16 January 2026

19 December 2025 – As part of South Africa’s implementation of the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) framework, SARS will soon launch the registration and notification functionality for the Global Minimum Tax (GMT) via its eFiling platform. This guide offers early clarification and reassurance that the GMT registration and notification processes will leverage existing systems to minimise disruptions and improve compliance as it will be integrated into the familiar SARS eFiling platform.

SARS has rescheduled the launch of the GMT registration and notification functionality on eFiling to 16 March 2026. This adjustment ensures system quality and alignment with international standards. See the Global Minimum Tax webpage for more information.

19 December 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariffs amendments notices R6961, R6962, R6963, R6964, R6965, and R6966, as published in Government Gazette 53874 of 19 December 2025, are now available

18 December 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: The tariffs amendments notices, scheduled for publication in the Government Gazette, relate to the amendments to –

• Part 1 of Schedule No. 1, by the substitution of Notes 5(b) and 8, the insertion of Note 5(c) and tariff subheading 9801.00.03 in Chapter 98, in order to include electric vehicles and associated components under APDP 2 – (ITAC Minute M15/2024 and Addendum);
• Part 1 of Schedule No. 3, by the substitution of rebate items 317.04 and 317.07 in order to include electric vehicles and associated components under APDP 2 – (ITAC Minute M15/2024 and Addendum);
• Part 1 of Schedule No. 4, by the substitution of rebate item 410.03/87.00/01.02 to delete the reference to 317.03 as this item has become redundant;
• Part 2 of Schedule No. 4, by the substitution of rebate item 460.17 to in order to include electric vehicles and associated components under APDP 2 – (ITAC Minute M15/2024 and Addendum);
• Part 3 of Schedule No. 5, by the substitution of rebate item 538.00 to in order to include electric vehicles and associated components under APDP 2 – (ITAC Minute M15/2024 and Addendum); and
• Part 4 of Schedule No. 6, by the substitution of Note 4 in order to delete the reference to 317.03 as this item has become redundant.

Publication details will be made available later

15 December 2025 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) reminds all trustees and provisional taxpayers that the deadline for submitting both ITR12T trust and provisional tax returns is 19 January 2026.

This reminder aligns with SARS’ strategic intent to improve compliance across all taxpayer segments and protect the country’s fiscus. This week, SARS reiterated the importance of voluntary compliance in maintaining trust in the country’s tax system.

SARS encourages trustees to gather all supporting documents, verify beneficiary information, and use SARS eFiling tools or online guides. This approach aims to make the process straightforward and instill confidence in submitting accurate returns.

SARS is committed to safeguarding taxpayer information and offers support for updating banking details. Trustees who need to verify changes in person can visit a SARS branch, ensuring they feel supported throughout the process.

Trusts with fewer than 10 beneficiaries that are not registered for eFiling can submit returns at a SARS branch. Trustees can also book an appointment in advance via SARS contact channels and prepare all required documents, such as trust deeds and beneficiary lists, to ensure a smooth submission process.

Trustees are reminded that compliance is mandatory, and non-compliance can result in fines and penalties.

For further information, contact: SARS Media Desk at [email protected].

12 December 2025 – Income Tax Act, 1962

• Interpretation Note 142 – Meaning of “similar finance charges”

12 December 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariffs amendments notice R6934, as published in Government Gazette 53822 of 12 December 2025, are now available

11 December 2025 – The policies governing tariff, valuation, origin and staged consignment have been revised to include specified turn-around times for the finalisation of the determination application submitted to Customs and Excise offices. The turn-around times provide taxpayers and traders with clear expectations about how long the process will take. It enables the taxpayers and traders to plan their operations more effectively, reduces uncertainty and allows them to make more informed decisions while it increases transparency and accountability within the process.

• SC-CR-A-03 – Valuation of Imports – External Policy
• SC-CR-A-07 – Valuation of Exports – External Policy
• SC-CR-A-09 – Tariff Classification – External Policy
• SC-CF-48 – Staged Consignment – External Policy
• SC-RO-02 – Administration of Trade Agreements – External Policy

11 December 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: The tariffs amendments notice, scheduled for publication in the Government Gazette, relates to the amendments to –

• Part 1 of Schedule No. 2 by the insertion of item 213.03/7007.29/02.06 in order to impose anti-dumping duty on imports of laminated safety glass classifiable in tariff subheading 7007.29, originating in or imported from Malaysia (ITAC Report 736 and Minute M06/2025)

Publication details will be made available later

11 December 2025 – The facility codes used in Box 30 on the Customs Clearance Declaration (CCD) has been updated to include details of the container depot for Fusion Dispatch Center (Pty) Ltd, located in Johannesburg.

This addition enables Customs to transmit electronic messages communicating the status of the consignment to these facilities.

SC-CF-19-A02 – Facilities Code List – External Annexure

3 December 2025 – National Legislation

• Draft Notice – Setting the requirements and conditions that must be met by a company for purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of “REIT” in section 1(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1962

Due date for comment: 31 January 2026

10 December 2025 – SARS is introducing an online registration system for Income Tax Exempt Institutions (TEI). This digital system aligns with SARS’s strategic objective to simplify taxpayer compliance through digital platforms. The pilot will commence on 8 December 2025 until 26 February 2026, and will include the migration and data take-on of all existing records and pilot trade testing. The approach will ensure an improved taxpayer experience once the full system is launched on 27 February 2026. To read more about this in Tax Exempt Institutions Connect Issue 10 (December 2025) and other TEI news, see our latest newsletter here.

10 December 2025 – The Guide to Complete the Lump Sum Tax Directive Application Forms has been updated to:

• Clarify when an in-active tax reference number will be accepted on a tax directive application.
• Emphasise the Fund’s duty to take into account the potential Double Tax Agreement (DTA) implications for non-resident clients.
• Clarify the process for applying for a tax directive where there is insufficient taxpayer information.