- Tax authority rolls out SASL interpreters to ensure inclusive service during 2025 filing season
South Africa Enhances Tax Accessibility with Sign Language Services. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the availability of South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters at selected branches, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive tax administration.
The interpreters will be available on Friday, 25 July 2025, at designated service centres across the country. The initiative aims to assist deaf taxpayers and individuals with hearing loss during the 2025 tax season.
Part of a Broader Filing Support Initiative
This announcement follows the successful close of the Auto Assessment period, which ran from 7 to 20 July 2025. SARS confirmed that the general tax filing window is now open to individual taxpayers from 21 July to 20 October 2025, with provisional taxpayers having until 19 January 2026 to file their returns.
According to SARS, over 90% of auto-assessed taxpayers received their outcomes in under five seconds—thanks to automation and real-time verification systems.
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South Africa Enhances Tax: Branches Offering Sign Language Support
SARS revealed on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that the following branches will host SASL interpreters from 08:00 to 16:00 on 25 July:
- Pretoria CBN
- Johannesburg CBD
- Durban CBD
- Mbombela CBD
- Gqeberha CBD
- East London
- Bellville
- Bloemfontein
- Mmabatho
- Klerksdorp
- Rustenburg
- Mthatha
The revenue service also noted that the service will continue on future dates, including 8 August, 5 September, 26 September, 3 October, and 17 October 2025.
Taxpayer Equity a Growing Focus in Administration
This initiative aligns with SARS’ broader strategy of improving taxpayer experience and equity through tailored service delivery. As part of its Vision 2024 strategy, the agency has been investing in multilingual support, user-friendly technology, and citizen-focused engagement.
Experts have applauded SARS for advancing accessibility, noting that inclusive tax compliance mechanisms are essential to expanding the national tax base and building trust with historically underserved populations.
Filing Options Still Centered on Digital Channels
SARS continues to encourage the majority of taxpayers to file online via eFiling or the SARS MobiApp. These platforms remain the fastest and most efficient methods for filing tax returns, particularly for those with straightforward tax affairs.
Taxpayers who require physical assistance—now including SASL users—can still benefit from the enhanced branch services being rolled out nationwide.
