3 July 2026
A SARS auto-assessment is an automatic tax assessment issued to certain taxpayers. Instead of waiting for you to complete your tax return from scratch, SARS uses information obtained from various sources, including employers, medical schemes, banks, retirement funds, investment providers, and other third-party data providers. This data is utilized by the revenue service to calculate your tax assessment.
An auto-assessment can greatly simplify tax season, especially if your tax situation is straightforward. However, it’s important to note that SARS is limited to the information it receives, which may not encompass all your income or deductions. If some of your income or deductions are missing from the data, your auto-assessment may be incorrect, and it remains your responsibility to rectify this. Understanding this emphasizes the importance of reviewing your assessment for accuracy.
For the 2026 tax season, SARS has confirmed that auto-assessments will take place from July 1 to July 12, 2026. If you are selected for an auto-assessment, SARS will notify you through official channels, including SMS, email, or your SARS eFiling profile. If you find something is missing or incorrect, you must file your tax return using SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp before the filing deadline.
Should I accept my SARS auto-assessment?
SARS has made the process easier but you are still responsible for checking that your assessment is correct. If you leave it alone, SARS’s version becomes your final tax position. However, it’s important to note that your auto-assessment may be wrong if:
• SARS did not receive all your tax certificates.
• Your banking or personal details are outdated.
• You had deductions that SARS did not include.
• SARS received outdated or incorrect information from a third party.
• You earned extra income that doesn’t appear on your auto-assessment.
• Your medical aid, retirement annuity or investment information is incomplete.
• Before submitting your tax return, it’s wise to double-check for two common issues:
• Under-declaring your income can lead to penalties or inquiries from SARS later on.
• Missing out on deductions may reduce your refund or result in you paying more tax than necessary.
It’s also important to note that if the third-party data is incorrect—such as an inaccurate IRP5 form or medical-aid tax certificate—you cannot simply edit it on your return. You must request that the provider, employer, medical scheme, or fund correct the information and resubmit it to SARS. This process helps you understand the proper steps to rectify errors and avoid potential penalties.
What income could be missing from my auto-assessment?
SARS receives a lot of information automatically, but it may not know about everything. Check whether you need to declare any of the following:
• Freelance income
• Side-hustle income
• Rental income
• Foreign income
• Investment income
• Crypto-related income or gains
• Any other income that does not appear on your auto-assessment
Leaving a wrong assessment alone does not protect you. The fact that SARS auto-assessed you does not absolve you of your responsibility to ensure that your income and deductions are reported accurately. You may be subject to fines and interest if SARS finds out that you omitted income. This is why it is important to review your auto-assessment before you leave it as is.
SARS auto-assessments can make tax season easier but they are not something to ignore. Keep in mind that if you do nothing, you have agreed, whether the numbers are right or not.
If your tax affairs are simple, your auto-assessment may well be correct. But if you earned extra income or have deductions to claim, it’s worth checking before you leave it as is. A few minutes now could help you avoid SARS problems later and help you claim the refund you are actually entitled to.
Ref: www.taxtim.com
www.uasa.org.za