What’s New at SARS

2 May 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariffs amendments notice R6164, R6165, and R6166, as published in Government Gazette 52576 of 2 May 2025, are now available.

1 May 2025 – Income Tax Act, 1962: Updated Tables of Interest Rates

• Table 1 – Interest rates on outstanding taxes and interest rates payable on certain refunds of tax
• Table 2 – Interest rates payable on credit amounts

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

Up to and including 1 May 2026

• Part 3 of Schedule No. 2, by the insertion of various items under item 260.03, in order to implement safeguard measures on the importation of hot-rolled steel products classifiable under Chapter 72 at a rate of 13% (ITAC Report No. 740)

With effect from 2 May 2026 up to and including 1 May 2027

• Part 3 of Schedule No. 2, by the substitution of various items under item 260.03, in order to reduce the rate of safeguard measures on the importation of hot-rolled steel products classifiable under Chapter 72 from 13% to 11% (ITAC Report No. 740)

With effect from 2 May 2027 up to and including 1 May 2028

• Part 3 of Schedule No. 2, by the substitution of various items under item 260.03, in order to reduce the rate of safeguard measures on the importation of hot-rolled steel products classifiable under Chapter 72 from 11% to 9% (ITAC Report No. 740)

Publication details will be made available later

30 April 2025 – South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R24.8 billion in March 2025. This surplus was attributable to exports of R172.5 billion and imports of R147.7 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).

Read the full Media Release here..

Or visit the Trade Statistics webpage.

30 April 2025 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in collaboration with the Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL), will be conducting Time Release Studies (TRS) at selected border posts during May and June 2025. These studies form part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the efficiency of cross-border trade and facilitating legitimate movement of goods and persons.

The TRS sessions are planned to take place as follows:

• • Maseru Bridge
    • Capacity Building: 05–09 May 2025
    • TRS Execution: 12–16 May 2025
  • Ficksburg Border Post
    • Capacity Building (without WCO handholding): 26–30 May 2025
    • TRS Execution: 02–06 June 2025

For more information, see the letter to stakeholders.

29 April 2025 – SARS invites you to tender for the goods and/or services as detailed in RFP42/2024. The conditions in the SARS Chain Management Policy and the Regulatory Framework which governs tenders at SARS are applicable to this tender process.

29 April 2025 – Taxpayers will now be able to submit Donations Tax (IT144) and Withholding Tax on Royalties (WTR01) declarations online through the SARS Online Query System (SOQS) via the SARS website. This platform streamlines tax declarations with automated systems and improved efficiency. Taxpayers can now manage their taxes from home or the office, 24/7, without having to visit a branch, thus enhancing tax compliance and easing the declaration process. See the Digital Channels webpage for more information or the new direct link to submit Donations Tax (IT144) and Withholding Tax on Royalties (WTR01) declarations.

27 April 2025 – The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr Edward Kieswetter, welcomes the agreement between the parties and court order in the matter relating to the 0.5 percentage point increase in value-added tax (VAT) that was originally announced to come into effect on 1 May 2025, along with other matters.

This is an important order that provides clarity to SARS to effectively and efficiently administer the VAT Act. It also has practical implication for consumers and VAT vendors charged with managing VAT. These are:

• The court’s order suspends the 0.5 percentage point increase that was originally announced to come into effect on 1 May 2015 and there is, therefore, no basis for VAT vendors to implement an increase of VAT rate.
• All vendors are urged to readjust their systems back to 15%.
• All consumers are urged to ensure that they are charged the correct VAT rate of 15%. In the unlikely event they are charged 15.5%, consumers should bring this to the attention of the vendor and ensure that this is resolved at the point of sale or otherwise by mutual agreement.

For further information, please contact [email protected].

27 April 2025 – As the 2025 filing season approaches, SARS requires taxpayers to ensure that their banking details are correct and updated. This ensures efficient processing of any refund that may be due.

If you need to change your bank information, you must first check that your security contact details (email and cell phone number) and SARS eFiling log-in details are up to date.

Please note: There is no need to act or make any changes if your banking details and security contact details are up to date.

Why Keeping Your Details Updated Matters

• Stay informed: receive important updates about your tax affairs immediately.
• Receive One-Time Pins (OTP): SARS will use your contact details (email or cell phone number) to send you an OTP.
  • Your OTP is the key to your eFiling account and for updating your banking details.
  • If your contact details are outdated, your OTP will not reach you, making it difficult for you to update or change your bank details.
• Secure your account: keep your log-in details current and protect your information

How to Update Your Information

To Update Your Security Contact Details (Required to receive OTPs)

1. Log in to eFiling (sarsefiling.co.za).
2. Click on “My Profile” in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. Select “Profile and Preference Setup” and scroll to the “Security Contact Details” section. Here, you can update your email address or cell phone number.
4. Verify with OTP: choose your preferred method of communication (email or SMS) to receive an OTP. Enter the OTP to confirm the changes.
5. Save changes: once the OTP is verified, your updated contact details will be saved.

To Update Your Banking Details Quickly

1. Log in to eFiling.
2. Click the express-access option: “Update My Personal Income Tax Bank Account”.
3. The Banking Details Update screen will be displayed.
4. Click “Maintain SARS Registered Details”.
5. Click the drop-down menu to select the bank name.
6. Fill in the branch code/branch name, account number, account type and account-holder name.
7. Click “Update Banking Details”.
8. Confirm the banking-details change with the OTP sent to your preferred method of communication.

Note: if both your email address and cell phone number have changed and you cannot follow the steps above, you will need to call the SARS Contact Centre (0800 00 7277) or visit a SARS branch to verify your identity. To avoid long queues, first book an appointment through the SARS website (www.sars.gov.za).

For more information view the below guides:

• IT-AE-36-G05 – Comprehensive Guide to the ITR12 Income Tax Return for Individuals – External Guide
• GEN-GEN-41-G01 – Change of Banking Details – External Guide
• IT-AE-36-G06 – Guide to submit your Individual Income Tax Return via eFiling – External Guide
• IT-AE-46-G01 – How to submit your Individual Income Tax return via the SARS MobiApp – External Guide

25 April 2025 – The North West tax workshop schedules for May 2025 are now available.

25 April 2025 – Value-Added Tax Act, 1991

• Binding General Ruling 4 (Issue 4) – Apportionment methodology to be applied by a municipality

25 April 2025 – Value-Added Tax Act, 1991

• Binding General Ruling 4 (Issue 3) – Apportionment methodology to be applied by a municipality

25 April 2025 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariffs amendments notice R6152, R6153, R6154, and R6155, as published in Government Gazette 52564 of 25 April 2025, are now available.

25 April 2025 – The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr. Edward Kieswetter has noted the Finance Minister, Mr. Enoch Godongwana’s decision to reverse the planned 0.5% VAT rate increase, which was initially set to take effect on 1 May 2025. This decision has significant practical implications for VAT vendors and consumers. As the administrator of all national government tax measures, SARS will ensure that the necessary adjustments are made to accommodate this change.

Additionally, the Commissioner acknowledges that vendors and consumers have invested in preparing for an increase in VAT during a period of uncertainty from Parliament’s deliberations and public comments.

As per the Minister’s media statement announcing the reversal of the increase in the VAT rate announcement and the publishing of Government Notice No 6157 of 24 April 2025, introducing in Parliament the Rates and Monetary Amounts and the Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, which is anticipated to  be  passed by Parliament,  the following measures will apply to all VAT vendors with effect from 1 May 2025:

1. VAT vendors who have not implemented the change in rate, they stop all development in this regard.
2. Vendors are expected to charge VAT at the rate of 15% and not 15.5% for the relevant goods and services as per the VAT Act.  Vendors may use limited time to adjust their systems accordingly. and report and pay the VAT.
3. Should a vendor not be able to revert to the 15% rate, due to complex system changes that may be needed, such supplies and purchases must be reported and accounted for at the 15.5% rate until such time that you are able to make the necessary system adjustments which should be completed by no later than 15 May 2025.
4. VAT transactions which were charged at 15.5% must be reported in field 12 (for output tax) and field 18 (for input tax) of the VAT return.
5. Adjustments in the form of refunds of the 0.5% rate to customers and from suppliers must equally be reported in fields 12 and 18 respectively.

6. The VAT return declarations made will be taken into consideration when verifications and/or audits on the affected VAT tax periods are conducted.
7. The VAT returns that are to be submitted will continue to calculate the VAT auto calculation using the 15% rate from tax periods or months commencing 1 May 2025.
8. Vendors who have already implemented both the rate changes and the Zero-Rating are encouraged to reverse those changes before 1 May 2025.

Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said that “he understands the complexity and the confusion that has resulted from this process. SARS will do its best to provide further clarity to create certainty of obligation for all vendors.”

For further information, please contact [email protected].

25 April 2025 – The KwaZulu-Natal mobile tax unit schedule for May 2025 is now available.

24 April 2025 – National Legislation

• Memorandum on Objects of Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, 2025

24 April 2025 – National Legislation

• Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill [B14—2025]

The Minister of Finance introduced the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill [B14—2025] in the National Assembly on 24 April 2025

24 April 2025 – Value-Added Tax Act, 1991: Frequently Asked Questions: Increase in the VAT Rate from 1 May 2025, and the Pocket Guide on the VAT Rate Increase from 1 May 2025 withdrawn by the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill [B14—2025] as tabled by the Minister of Finance in the National Assembly on 24 April 2025.

24 April 2025 – National Legislation: Notice of Introduction in National Assembly of Draft Rates Bill

• Notice of Introduction in National Assembly of draft Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, 2025, and Publication of Explanatory Summary of Bill, and Withdrawal of Notice

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

With retrospective effect from 1 September 2024 up to and including 31 December 2024

• Schedule No. 1, to implement the revised Tariff Rate Quota in terms of the Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EU EPA)
• Schedule No. 1, to implement the revised Tariff Rate Quota in terms of the Economic Partnership Agreement (SACUM-UK EPA)

With retrospective effect from 1 January 2025

• Schedule No. 1, to implement the revised Tariff Rate Quota in terms of the Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EU EPA)
• Schedule No. 1, to implement the revised Tariff Rate Quota in terms of the Economic Partnership Agreement (SACUM-UK EPA)

Publication details will be made available later