Every deadline a South African business actually has.
Every SA compliance deadline, dated, sourced and kept current.One page, kept current. Each entry names who it applies to, which regulator sets it, and the source it was checked against. Dates landing on a weekend or a public holiday are already moved back to the business day before.
- dated deadlines
- 47dated deadlines
- obligations
- 13obligations
- regulators
- 2regulators
- with no shared date
- 2with no shared date
Last updated 2026-09-25
September 2026
- 25Fri
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 30Wed
VAT201 return and payment, eFiling
In 5 daysVAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
- 30Wed
Provisional tax, third period top-up
In 5 daysOptional top-up payment after year end and before assessment, seven months after a February year end. Paying here stops interest running on a shortfall.
Applies to Provisional taxpayers who underpaid in the first two periods.
October 2026
- 1Thu
Last day to submit EEA2 and EEA4 on paper. The online route stays open until January, which is the difference most people are searching for.
Applies to Designated employers submitting manually.
- 7Wed
EMP201 monthly employer declaration
In 12 daysPAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 23Fri
VAT201 return and payment, manual
In 28 daysVAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 30Fri
VAT201 return and payment, eFiling
In 35 daysVAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
- 31Sat
EMP501 interim reconciliation closes
In 36 daysInterim employer reconciliation for the six months from March to August, reconciling EMP201s, payments and IRP5/IT3(a) certificates.
Applies to Every registered employer.
November 2026
- 6Fri
EMP201 monthly employer declaration
In 42 daysPAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 25Wed
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 30Mon
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
December 2026
- 7Mon
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 24Thu
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 31Thu
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
January 2027
- 7Thu
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 15Fri
Final day for online EEA2 and EEA4 submission through the Department's EE system. Missing it exposes an employer to escalating fines.
Applies to Designated employers.
- 25Mon
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 29Fri
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
February 2027
- 5Fri
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 25Thu
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 26Fri
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
- 28Sun
Second provisional tax return and payment, at the end of the year of assessment. The underestimation penalty attaches to this one, which is why it matters more than the first.
Applies to Provisional taxpayers with a February year of assessment.
March 2027
- 5Fri
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 25Thu
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 31Wed
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
April 2027
- 7Wed
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 23Fri
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 30Fri
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
- 30Fri
Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report. Missing it forfeits the mandatory grant, which is 20% of the skills development levy paid that year, and the discretionary grants with it. The money does not roll over.
Applies to Employers with an annual payroll above R500 000 who pay the skills development levy.
Department of Employment and LabourSource
May 2027
- 7Fri
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 25Tue
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 31Mon
Annual employer reconciliation for the full tax year, and the submission that produces employees' IRP5 certificates.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 31Mon
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
June 2027
- 7Mon
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 25Fri
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 30Wed
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
- 30Wed
Annual return of earnings to the Compensation Fund. Late submission carries a 10% penalty on the assessment plus monthly interest, and no Letter of Good Standing is issued until it is submitted and paid.
Applies to Every employer registered for COIDA.
Department of Employment and LabourSource
July 2027
- 7Wed
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 23Fri
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 30Fri
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
August 2027
- 6Fri
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 25Wed
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
- 31Tue
VAT return and payment where the vendor files on eFiling, due the last business day of the month. That is several days later than the manual date, which is a real cash-flow difference.
Applies to VAT vendors filing on eFiling.
- 31Tue
First provisional tax return and payment, for the six months to 31 August. This date is for a February year-end; a different year-end moves it.
Applies to Provisional taxpayers with a February year of assessment.
September 2027
- 1Wed
The EEA2 and EEA4 reporting window opens. Both the manual and the online route open on this date; they close on different ones.
Applies to Designated employers: 50 or more employees, plus municipalities, organs of state and employers bound by a collective agreement.
- 7Tue
PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration and payment for the previous month, due within seven days of the month end. When the 7th falls on a weekend or a public holiday it moves earlier, to the last business day before it, never later.
Applies to Every registered employer.
- 23Thu
VAT return and payment for the tax period where the vendor files on paper. Where the 25th is not a business day it moves back to the business day before it.
Applies to VAT vendors who do not file on eFiling.
The ones that run on your calendar, not everyone's.
Obligations that run off your own dates, not a shared one.These do not fall on a date the whole country shares. They run off your incorporation date or the day your certificate was issued, which is exactly why they are the ones that get missed.
CIPC annual return
Annual return filing, which since July 2024 cannot be completed unless the beneficial ownership declaration is filed and current. Non-filing leads to penalties, a compliance notice, and ultimately deregistration.
Applies to Every registered company and close corporation.
Registered office and physical address must be current
The address on the CIPC register has to reflect where the company actually is. Nothing expires here, it just stops being true, and court documents and compliance notices keep being served at the old address.
Applies to Directors and prescribed officers.
How this is kept right
Each obligation is stored as a rule rather than a date, so the calendar rolls forward on its own and never shows last year's answer. Nothing appears until it has been checked against the regulator's own source, and the windows that genuinely move year to year are flagged for a fresh check each year.
Dates falling on a weekend, a public holiday, Good Friday or Family Day are already moved back to the last business day, because that is what the rules actually say. Where an obligation has two dates, like VAT201 on paper and on eFiling, both are listed rather than collapsed into one.
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