SARS is rolling out auto-assessments to millions of taxpayers between 1 and 12 July 2026, based on data it already holds from employers, medical schemes, retirement funds and banks. If you’re not auto-assessed or you don’t agree with what SARS has calculated, you can file manually from 13 July, with the deadline for non-provisional taxpayers falling on 23 October 2026.
It’s a convenient system. But convenient isn’t the same as correct, and it’s worth understanding what an auto-assessment can and can’t see before you let it stand.
Silence counts as agreement
If SARS sends you an auto-assessment and you don’t respond, it’s treated as accepted. That’s harmless if the numbers are right, but if they’re not, you’ve effectively signed off on an error. A quick review before you move on is worth the five minutes.
Your assessment only knows what’s been reported to SARS
Third-party data doesn’t automatically capture freelance income, side hustles, rental income, or other income you’ve earned outside a formal payroll. If it’s not in SARS’s system, it won’t be in your auto-assessment — and if it surfaces later, you could be looking at a query or penalty.
Deductions can go missing too
The same logic applies in reverse. Retirement annuity contributions, Section 18A donations, qualifying medical expenses, home-office costs and travel claims don’t always make it into the pre-populated figures. Skipping the check could mean leaving a refund on the table.
Third-party errors aren’t yours to fix directly
If your IRP5, medical aid certificate or retirement fund certificate has incorrect information, editing your return won’t solve it — the employer, scheme or fund needs to correct it at source and resubmit to SARS.
A more complicated tax year needs a closer look
Two-pot withdrawals, multiple IRP5s, interest income above the exemption threshold, investment disposals, foreign dividends or rental income all add layers an auto-assessment may not fully account for. If any of these applied to you this year, don’t assume the auto-assessment has captured the full picture. Note that filing may still be required even if your income falls below the tax threshold, depending on your circumstances.
Our recommendation
Treat the auto-assessment as a starting point, not a final answer. Pull out your payslips, IRP5s, medical aid and retirement annuity certificates, and any investment statements, and compare them line by line. If it all checks out, accept it. If it doesn’t, file a corrected return before the deadline — it’s a lot less painful than a query or penalty down the line.
Need help reviewing your assessment? Get in touch with our team.