Trusts

SARS has confirmed that tax filing season for Trusts opened on 19 September 2026, with the closing date set for 22 January 2027. This year brings important enhancements to the ITR12T trust return which takes place against the backdrop of SARS’s administrative non-compliance penalty framework for trusts, which came into effect on 4 May 2026 and applies to outstanding trust income tax returns for tax periods from 2024 onwards. Trustees remain accountable for all trust tax matters, regardless of economic activity, so please read this article carefully.

This tax season marks an important shift for trusts, which are now subject to heightened reporting requirements, regardless of activity, as well as automated penalties for non-compliance starting on 4 May 2026.
If you have a non-compliant trust, even if it is inactive, please speak to us. SARS has taken a zero-tolerance approach to trust compliance, increasing scrutiny of trust administration and automatically applying ongoing penalties and interest that can rapidly accumulate.