Tax returns & filing

Tax returns and filing in South Africa

Updated 4 November 2026

A simple individual tax return in South Africa costs about R 215 on a lite package, and a smart package for homeowners costs about R 565, according to published price lists in November 2026. Extra work is charged by the hour or as a levy for late returns, so ask for the total in writing. To get a price for your own return, use BlaBlaPrice.

Which package fits your return

A straightforward salary return is the cheapest option, at R 215 on one published price list. The smart package at R 565 suits homeowners and people with more to declare, such as rental or savings income. One published fee schedule charges R 550 per hour for extra time beyond the maximum hours, so ask what the package includes before you agree a price.

Rules, thresholds and late filing

Returns are submitted through SARS eFiling, the online system of the South African Revenue Service. A published summary of SARS rules says individuals whose only income is one salary below R 500,000 do not need to submit a return. Returns from earlier years that are still outstanding carry a tax levy of R 450 each, according to one tax firm, so check for missing years before you agree a price.

Timing: what to prepare in November

South Africa's summer runs from December to February and its winter from June to August, so November is late spring and the weather changes little for filing. What matters is the paperwork. Gather your IRP5 certificates, bank statements and any rental or savings records early, so the work can start without delay. Because outstanding returns from earlier years carry the levy, start now rather than at the last minute.

What to give the firm

Say who is filing (you or a company), which return it is, the tax period, the income or activity to declare, and whether this is a one-off or a yearly job. Add the size of the return, your deadline and your budget. The more of this you give, the closer the quote will be.

Send one request on BlaBlaPrice with these details. The assistant asks for anything missing, checks local sellers' websites and price lists, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their own price and terms, and your contact details stay hidden until you decide to share them. To see how it works, read how BlaBlaPrice works.