Your May–June VAT period closes on 30 June 2026. The eFiling deadline is Friday, 31 July 2026. Now is the time to get organised — not the last week of July.
What You Need to Be Doing Right Now
With 23 days left in the period, your focus should be on keeping your records clean as you go — not scrambling to capture everything at the end.
This means:
- All May invoices captured and reconciled
- June invoices captured as they come in
- Bank account reconciled regularly
- No invoices sitting in a pile waiting for month end
Your Target: Submit by Wednesday, 29 July
The eFiling deadline is Friday, 31 July. Submit by Wednesday, 29 July — giving yourself a two-day buffer.
Why Wednesday?
The Friday afternoon eFiling pattern repeats every deadline:
- Monday–Wednesday: Fast, smooth submissions
- Thursday: Getting busier
- Friday 2PM onwards: Slowdowns, timeouts
- Friday 4PM: Panic mode
Submit Wednesday. Avoid the rush.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Missing the Deadline Has Consequences
Missing the deadline results in penalties and interest charged by SARS.
The longer you leave it, the more you owe — interest accrues daily on any outstanding amount.
If you do miss the deadline, submit immediately and pull your SARS Statement of Account to see exactly what is owed. Pay the full outstanding amount — including penalties and interest — using the same payment reference number as your VAT return.
Need Help Getting Organised?
If your May–June records are behind, now is the time to get them sorted — not the last week of July.
We help businesses stay on top of their VAT so deadline week is stress-free.
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.