Your May–June VAT period closes on Tuesday, 30 June 2026. That is 2 days away.
After 30 June, the period is locked. Any invoices not captured before then fall outside the period — meaning you either miss the input VAT claim or have to correct the return later.
Here is what you need to do before the period closes, and your plan for the July eFiling deadline.
What Must Be Captured Before 30 June
The next 48 hours are about making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Before midnight on 30 June, ensure the following are captured:
Sales invoices
Every invoice you issued in May and June must be in your accounting system. If you issued an invoice today, it needs to be captured today — not next week.
Supplier invoices
Every supplier invoice you received in May and June must be captured. Chase any outstanding invoices now. Once the period closes, you cannot claim input VAT on invoices received after 30 June that belong to this period.
Credit notes
Any credit notes issued or received in May or June must be captured in the correct period.
Bank transactions
Reconcile your bank account up to today. Do not leave unmatched transactions sitting — they affect your figures.
Once the period closes on 30 June, run your VAT report and review the numbers before you close off.
Your July Submission Plan
The eFiling deadline is Friday, 31 July 2026. Do not wait until then.
Your target: Submit Wednesday, 29 July 2026 — two days before the deadline.
Timeline:
- 30 June: Period closes. Run your VAT report. Review the numbers.
- 1–4 July: Fix any errors. Reconcile your bank fully. Correct any wrong periods.
- Week of 28 July: Final review. Submit Wednesday, 29 July. Download proof.
- Thursday–Friday 30–31 July: Two-day buffer. You are already done.
Why Wednesday?
eFiling follows the same pattern every single deadline:
- Monday–Wednesday: Fast and smooth
- Thursday: Getting busier
- Friday 2PM onwards: Slowdowns and timeouts
- Friday 4PM: Last-minute chaos
Submit Wednesday. None of that affects you.
Common Errors to Fix in July Before You Submit
Once the period closes, take time in early July to review your VAT report before submitting. Common errors to look for:
Invoices in the wrong period
An invoice from April sitting in May, or a June invoice dated July, will distort your figures. Check that all invoices fall within 1 May–30 June.
Missing invoices
Compare your debtor invoices against your sales records. Compare your creditor invoices against your bank payments. Anything missing needs to be followed up before submission.
Duplicate entries
A supplier invoice captured twice inflates your input VAT claim. A quick creditors review in early July catches this easily.
Supplier invoices without valid VAT numbers
You cannot claim input VAT without a valid tax invoice that includes the supplier's VAT registration number. Check your invoices are complete and correct.
What Happens If You Miss the 31 July Deadline
Missing the 31 July 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 it remains unpaid, the more it grows.
If you miss the deadline:
Need Help Before the Period Closes?
If your May–June records are not where they need to be, we can help you get them sorted before 30 June.
At Accounting Simplified we make sure nothing falls through the cracks — so your July submission is straightforward and 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.