My AI generated weekly update advises me that from 4th May 2026, SARS will be imposing monthly administrative penalties on trusts that fail to submit their annual tax returns.

This was gazetted on 27 March and specifically confirms that, as is the case with companies, it will apply even when the trust earns zero income.

The probability is that the penalties will be R250 per month for every outstanding tax return.

Since posting this article, we have received, on 5th May, our first notification of the imposition of R250 per return for a trust. So, it’s real and it’s happening.

These penalties can usually be reversed if we submit the outstanding returns and request a remission.