What Happens If You Miss the SARS Filing Deadline? TGC Explains.
Missing a SARS tax return deadline can be more than a minor inconvenience — it may lead to financial penalties, interest charges, compliance risks, and even legal consequences. Whether you’re a business owner, freelancer, or salaried employee, staying on top of your tax filing obligations is a critical part of your financial responsibility.
But what exactly happens if you miss the deadline? And how can you fix it quickly and correctly? In this article, we explain the penalties, interest implications, and the steps you can take to get back on track.
Key Filing Deadlines in 2025
Before diving into consequences, let’s recap the most important SARS deadlines for the 2025 tax season:
- 7–20 July 2025: Auto-assessments issued by SARS
- 21 July – 20 October 2025: Filing period for non-provisional taxpayers who were not auto-assessed
- 21 July 2025 – 19 January 2026: Filing period for provisional taxpayers
Note: Missing your applicable deadline without a valid reason can result in immediate non-compliance, affecting your refund, tax status, or ability to access government contracts or funding.
What Are the Penalties for Late Tax Returns?
- Administrative Non-Compliance Penalty
If you fail to submit your return by the due date, SARS may impose a monthly administrative penalty ranging from R250 to R16,000 — depending on your taxable income. This penalty is charged every month until the return is filed, for up to 35 months.
Example:
If you’re a provisional taxpayer earning over R1 million annually, you could face a monthly penalty of R1,000 or more if your return is late.
- Interest on Outstanding Tax
If you owe tax and fail to pay by the due date, SARS will charge interest at the prescribed rate, currently around 11.75% annually (subject to change). This applies to unpaid income tax, VAT, PAYE, and other tax types.
- Possible Additional Penalties or Prosecution
In serious cases — especially where SARS believes there is wilful non-compliance — they may apply additional penalties or consider legal action, which could lead to garnishee orders, asset seizure, or prosecution.
Impact of Late Filing on You or Your Business
- ❌ Refund delays: Late filing means delayed assessment and payout.
- ❌ Audit risk increases: Missed deadlines are red flags.
- ❌ Non-compliance status: Your tax compliance status will show as “non-compliant,” affecting applications for loans, tenders, or grants.
- ❌ Restricted access to CSD (Central Supplier Database) if you’re a contractor or tender applicant.
- ❌ Ongoing monthly penalties continue to accumulate until resolved.
What to Do If You Missed the Deadline
The good news? Late filing is fixable — but the sooner you act, the better.
✅ 1. File as Soon as Possible
Even if you’ve missed the deadline, submitting your return sooner reduces the number of months penalties will be charged. The penalty clock only stops once SARS receives the return.
✅ 2. Request a Remission (Where Applicable)
If you have a valid reason for the delay (illness, loss of documents, etc.), you can submit a Request for Remission (RFR) on eFiling. SARS may waive the penalty if your case is strong and well documented.
✅ 3. Pay Outstanding Balances
If you owe SARS, settle the balance as quickly as possible. This will minimise interest charges and help restore your compliance status.
✅ 4. Contact a Tax Professional
Working with a registered tax practitioner, like the team at The Glass Castle, ensures that all the correct steps are followed — and that your return is complete, accurate, and defensible in the event of an audit.
How TGC Helps You Recover Quickly
At The Glass Castle, we provide a complete late-filing resolution service, including:
- Catch-up bookkeeping and tax return preparation
- Submission of outstanding returns
- Calculation of penalties and interest
- SARS query handling and audit support
- Remission requests, tax planning, and re-establishing compliance
- Tax Clearance Pin and Letter of Good Standing applications
Whether you’re one month late or a few years behind, our expert team can help you regain financial control and full tax compliance — fast and efficiently.
Missing a SARS filing deadline isn’t the end of the world — but ignoring it can snowball into a serious problem. With administrative penalties adding up and compliance status on the line, the best approach is to act quickly and decisively.
Let The Glass Castle help you resolve your late tax returns, avoid future penalties, and ensure a smooth filing season going forward.
📍 Get in touch today to fix the past and take charge of your future.
