Your May–June VAT period closes on 30 June 2026 — that's 16 days away. The eFiling deadline is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Most business owners only think about VAT when the deadline is days away. By then, they're scrambling to find invoices, chase bank statements, and fix errors under pressure.
The businesses that sail through VAT deadlines are the ones who keep their records clean during the period — not after it closes. Here's how to make sure you're one of them.
Where Should Your Records Be Right Now?
You are halfway through your May–June VAT period. This is what your records should look like today:
May invoices:
- All sales invoices issued in May captured
- All supplier invoices received in May captured
- May bank account fully reconciled
- Output and input VAT for May correctly recorded
June invoices (so far):
- All sales invoices issued in June to date captured
- Supplier invoices received in June to date captured
- Bank transactions matched as they come in
If you are behind on any of these, now is the time to catch up — not 30 June.
The Most Common VAT Errors — Catch Them Now
Most VAT errors are easy to fix when caught early. Left until submission time, they cause delays and stress.
Watch out for:
Invoices in the wrong period
An invoice issued in April sitting in your May transactions will distort your VAT figures. Check that all invoices are captured in the correct period.
Missing supplier invoices
You can only claim input VAT on invoices you have. If a supplier invoice is missing, follow it up now — not on the last day of the period.
Duplicate invoices
Capturing the same invoice twice inflates your input VAT. A quick review of your creditors list now will pick these up easily.
Invoices without valid VAT numbers
To claim input VAT, a tax invoice must include the supplier's VAT registration number. Check your invoices are complete and valid.
Your Submission Plan
The eFiling deadline is Friday, 31 July. Don't wait until then.
Target: Submit Wednesday, 29 July — two days before the deadline.
Your timeline:
- 30 June: Period closes. Run your VAT report for May–June.
- 1–4 July: Review the numbers. Fix any errors. Reconcile your bank.
- Week of 28 July: Final check. Submit Wednesday, 29 July.
Why Wednesday?
Every VAT deadline, eFiling follows the same pattern:
- Monday–Wednesday: Fast and smooth
- Thursday: Busier, slower
- Friday 2PM onwards: Slowdowns, timeouts, system strain
Submit Wednesday and it is done. No eFiling chaos. No last-minute panic.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Missing the Deadline Has Consequences
Missing the 31 July deadline results in penalties and interest charged by SARS.
Interest accrues daily on any outstanding VAT amount — the longer you leave it, the more you owe.
If you do miss the deadline, act immediately:
The Simple Habit That Makes VAT Easy
The businesses that never stress about VAT deadlines share one habit: they treat their bookkeeping as an ongoing task, not a once-a-quarter catch-up.
Capture invoices as they arrive. Reconcile your bank weekly. Review your VAT report at the end of each month.
By the time the period closes on 30 June, your records are already clean. Submission becomes a formality — not a crisis.
Sixteen days left in this period. Use them well.
Need Help Getting Your Records in Order?
If your May–June records are behind, or you want to make sure your VAT process is set up correctly going forward, we can help.
At Accounting Simplified we keep your books clean throughout the period so that VAT submission is never a last-minute rush.
Important: This article provides general guidance for South African businesses. Every business situation is unique — consult a qualified accounting professional for advice specific to your circumstances.