06/07/2026
SARS AUTO-ASSESSMENT
What's an auto-assessment, in plain English?
SARS uses the data they already have from your employer, medical aid, retirement annuity, bank, and a few other third parties. They use it to do your tax return for you. You don't have to fill anything in. SARS just sends you the result.
Sounds great, right? Here's the catch.
Why you shouldn't just accept it
SARS only knows what third parties told them. They don't know about:
• Extra income you earned, like freelance work, rental income, or a side hustle, that you still need to declare.
• Out-of-pocket medical costs your medical aid didn't cover.
• Donations to registered charities, known as S18A donations.
• Home office expenses, travel, wear and tear, and other deductions you're entitled to claim.
If any of those apply to you, the auto-assessment is not the full story. You could be paying more tax than you should. Or under-declaring income and getting queried by SARS later.
Please take note that the Auto assessments are random. You cannot choose to be auto assessed.