Don't just accept your auto-assessment.
SARS is issuing over 6 million auto-assessments this July — but experts are warning taxpayers not to simply accept them without a thorough review first.
The 2026 SARS Filing Season is underway and auto-assessments are being sent out via SMS and email between 1 and 12 July 2026. While auto-assessments are designed to simplify the filing process, tax experts are warning that a simpler process does not mean less responsibility — and that accepting an incorrect assessment can have serious financial consequences.
Tax experts warn that taxpayers should treat their auto-assessment as a draft, not a final calculation. SARS pulls data from employers, banks, medical schemes and retirement funds — but this third-party data is not always complete or correct.
A simpler process does not mean less responsibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring all income, deductions and tax information are complete and accurate still rests with the taxpayer.
Tax expert warning, July 2026
What to check before accepting
- Income: Confirm all income sources are correctly reflected — salary, rental, freelance and investment income
- Medical aid: Check that your medical aid contributions and credits are accurately captured
- Retirement: Verify your retirement annuity deductions are correctly included
- IRP5: Confirm your employer's IRP5 figures match your actual earnings for the year
- Banking details: Ensure your refund banking details are up to date to avoid refund delays
Critical warning
If third-party data is incorrect — for example a medical aid or IRP5 figure — you cannot simply edit it yourself. SARS requires the original provider (your employer, medical scheme or fund) to correct and resubmit the information. Only income and deductions that SARS did not already have can be added by the taxpayer directly.
If you receive an auto-assessment and agree with it — no further action is required and any refund due will be paid within 72 hours. However, if anything is missing or incorrect, you must amend and resubmit your return via eFiling or the SARS MobiApp before your applicable deadline.
If you do not receive an auto-assessment notification by 12 July 2026, you are not auto-assessed and must file your return manually from 13 July. Non-provisional taxpayers have until 23 October 2026 and provisional taxpayers until 22 January 2027.
Bottom line
An auto-assessment is not a guarantee of accuracy. Before accepting, review every line carefully. If anything looks wrong — act immediately. The convenience of auto-assessment does not reduce your legal obligation to submit a complete and accurate return to SARS.
Source: BusinessTech / SARS 2026 · For informational purposes only