In an effort to enhance digital efficiency and avoid the technical hiccups that marred the start of the current tax season, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the rollout of a virtual waiting room system for its eFiling platform during high-traffic periods.
This change comes in response to the system disruptions experienced earlier in July when auto-assessments began coinciding with employer tax submissions. The surge in traffic overwhelmed SARS’ digital infrastructure, prompting the authority to take proactive measures ahead of the manual filing phase.
Virtual Waiting Room: What Taxpayers Need to Know
From Monday, 21 July 2025, manual filing officially opens for individuals, provisional taxpayers, and trusts. To prevent system overloads, SARS says users logging in during peak times will be placed in a virtual queue. This mechanism will control traffic spikes and maintain platform stability.
Once in the queue, taxpayers will see a message on their screen confirming their position and an estimated waiting time. As soon as capacity allows, users will be redirected to the login page automatically—no refreshing or repeated attempts needed.
To further safeguard the system from bots or abuse, users may be asked to complete a simple Captcha verification to confirm they’re human. This is part of a broader strategy to keep eFiling functional during the busiest periods.
Upgrades and Service Interruptions Expected
In addition to the virtual queue, SARS plans to upgrade its digital platforms throughout the tax season. These scheduled improvements will mostly occur after business hours, extending into the evenings to minimize disruption.
However, SARS cautions users that there could be intermittent service interruptions during these updates. These may impact the availability of not only eFiling but also tax and customs platforms, though core services will remain accessible most of the time.
Earlier system failures this month forced SARS to extend certain filing deadlines, giving businesses more time to avoid penalties caused by the unstable online services. By preemptively rolling out the virtual waiting room, the agency aims to prevent a repeat of that scenario.
Important Tax Season Dates for 2025
Key filing periods for Tax Season 2025 are as follows:
- Auto-Assessments: 7 July – 20 July 2025
- Individual Taxpayers: 21 July – 20 October 2025
- Provisional Taxpayers and Trusts: 21 July 2025 – 19 January 2026
SARS encourages users to file as early as possible to avoid the rush. With these digital enhancements, the authority hopes to deliver a more efficient and reliable filing experience this season.
