“Provisional tax is merely an advance payment of a taxpayer’s normal tax liability.” SARS

For many taxpayers, it feels as if you’re making income tax payments all the time.

It’s not far from the truth because, in South Africa, provisional taxpayers make two compulsory payments (and possibly a third voluntary payment) each year. As a result, there are numerous deadlines that overlap across tax years. Yes: it is confusing, as the timeline below illustrates. But there’s no point throwing your arms up in the air: provisional tax non-compliance is met with some of the harshest penalties imposed by SARS.

Provisional and income tax timelines

For individual provisional taxpayers and for companies with a February year-end

Year of assessment

2027
(1 Mar 2026 – 28 Feb 2027)

Requirement: First provisional tax payment

When: 6 months from start of year of assessment

Due Date: 31 Aug 2026

2026
(1 Mar 2025 – 28 Feb 2026)

Requirement: Third and voluntary provisional payment

When: Last working day of September; or within six months of end of year of assessment

Due Date: 30 Sep 2026

2026
(1 Mar 2025 – 28 Feb 2026)

Requirement: Annual company income tax (CIT) return ITR14 or personal income tax (PIT) return ITR12
(any further tax payment usually due within 30 days of assessment)

When: 12 months from end of financial year end for companies; final submission date for individuals determined annually by filing season

Due Date: 22 Jan 2027 (individuals only)

For provisional payments, the assessment and payment due dates are the same. For final income tax assessments, payment is due within 30 days of the date of assessment (not necessarily the due date of assessment).

Who are ‘provisional taxpayers’?

All companies except those specifically excluded
Any person who earns income which is not remuneration, an allowance or advance or who earns remuneration from an employer not registered for employees’ tax except those specifically excluded
A labour broker with an exemption certificate
Any person notified by the Commissioner of SARS

Why must provisional tax be paid?

Provisional tax payments are like instalments on taxpayers’ annual income tax, paid in advance and spread over two or three payments during the year. These payments are deducted against any tax owing after the year’s final income tax return is filed – at which point any further tax liability will then become due.

The objective is to prevent taxpayers from facing large income tax liabilities that are only revealed at the end of the year of assessment.

How is provisional tax declared and paid?

Provisional tax payments are calculated on estimated taxable income, including current taxable capital gains, for that particular year of assessment.
The estimates, says SARS, must be determined sensibly and by careful reasoning and judgment, in a mathematical manner, and using experience, common sense and all available information.
The first period estimate is forward-looking, requiring companies to estimate their taxable income for the year ahead and then to pay tax on this estimate in advance.
In contrast, the second period provisional return is retrospective, since by the year-end there is more certainty regarding the income for the year, and the tax due thereon.
These estimates of taxable income are submitted to SARS on an IRP6 return, which must be submitted by all provisional taxpayers for the first and second periods.
Even if you or your company owes no tax, a ‘nil’ return showing taxable income is equal to zero must still be filed on time.
If an IRP6 is filed more than four months after the deadline, SARS considers a ‘nil’ return to have been submitted, and unless the actual taxable income is really zero, this will result in penalties.
Accurate records of all the calculations and source documents used must be kept as SARS can ask for the estimate to be justified and, if dissatisfied with the amount, increase the estimate.

Do call on our professional assistance

All taxpayers are ultimately responsible for their tax affairs, even though provisional tax is particularly daunting and confusing, with so many overlapping deadlines, complex requirements and harsh penalties.

Expert tax advice is highly recommended to ensure compliance with the requirements and the filing and payment deadlines. You know who to call.