January and February 2026 bring two important deadlines for South African provisional taxpayers. Handling them correctly can help protect your cash flow, while missing them may lead to penalties and unnecessary interest. A bit of planning now can make the difference between smooth compliance and an expensive scramble later.
Here’s how to stay ahead of SARS and use this period to your advantage.
- January: Lock In Your Actuals (ITR12 by 19 January 2026)
January is all about closing the loop on what actually happened in your 2025 tax year (ending 28 February 2025), not just what you estimated.
Provisional taxpayers, typically individuals or trusts with taxable income above R91,250 and who don’t earn all their income from a traditional salary with PAYE, must submit their ITR12 returns by 19 January 2026. Miss this, and SARS starts charging:
- A monthly administrative penalty from R250, and
- Potential 20% understatement penalties plus interest on any underpaid tax.
To get this right:
- Review SARS eFiling data against your own records.
- Reconcile provisional payments with actual income.
- Check medical aid, retirement annuities, rental schedules, and investment income.
- If you were auto-assessed earlier, ensure it still reflects your true income.
January is your moment to switch from estimates to reality.
- February: Fine-Tune Your Estimate (Second IRP6 by 28 February 2026)
Once your actuals are squared away, February is about precision planning. Your second provisional tax payment (IRP6) for the 2026 tax year is due on 28 February 2026 (or the last business day if adjusted for weekends/public holidays).
This is your chance to correct course:
- Update your income estimate for the full year
Don’t simply copy last year’s numbers. Include:- Bonuses or commission
- Rental income and vacancies
- Changes in business profit
- Capital gains (for example, a property sale)
- Use your latest SARS assessment as a guide
If your most recent assessment shows a pattern of under- or over-estimating, adjust this year’s estimate accordingly. The goal is to be accurate enough that SARS doesn’t see your estimate as “unreasonably low”. - Consider your cash-flow timing
Because provisional tax is paid in advance, a well-judged estimate:- Prevents a nasty surprise at final assessment, and
- Avoids tying up too much cash unnecessarily at year-end.
For companies with February year-ends, this period also lines up with planning for the ITR14 return (due within 12 months of year-end) – another reason to use February as a strategic review point, not just a compliance tick-box.
- Penalties, Interest, and How to Stay Out of Trouble
SARS takes missed or underestimated payments seriously. Here’s what’s at stake if you ignore these deadlines:
- R250 per month admin penalties for late ITR12 submissions
- 20% understatement penalties where SARS believes income was under-declared or estimates were unreasonably low
- Interest on late payments running from the original due date
You do have tools to limit the damage if your early estimates were off:
- Use the optional third IRP6 (top-up) by 30 September 2026
This “voluntary correction” can reduce interest if your first two provisional payments were too low. It’s especially useful if your income increased later in the year or a once-off transaction (like a big capital gain) changed your tax liability. - Keep everything documented
SARS doesn’t only look at the numbers – they consider how you arrived at them. Keep working papers, cash flow projections, and notes of how you calculated your estimates. This helps defend your position if SARS queries your return.
How Secundes Can Help
Provisional tax can feel time-consuming and uncertain, especially when income varies or multiple sources are involved. Secundes helps simplify the process by reviewing your records, refining your estimates, and ensuring your returns align with SARS requirements. We assist with preparing and submitting ITR12 and IRP6 returns, identifying missed deductions, and managing payment timing to support healthier cash flow.
For businesses and individuals alike, we provide clear guidance, practical planning, and support that helps you stay compliant without the stress.
Let Secundes manage your 2026 provisional tax with confidence.
While every reasonable effort is taken to ensure the accuracy and soundness of the contents of this publication, neither writers of articles nor the publisher will bear any responsibility for the consequences of any actions based on information or recommendations contained herein. Our material is for informational purposes.