Automated tax filing offers convenience for millions of South Africans, but taxpayers remain legally responsible for ensuring every detail is complete and accurate.

The auto-assessment window ran from July 1 to July 12, requiring no action from taxpayers who agreed with the outcome. Those who disagree can edit and submit their returns by October 23. Provisional taxpayers have until January 22, 2027, while the filing window for trusts opens on September 19.

Taxpayers can file their returns or view their auto-assessment status securely on the SARS eFiling platform or the SARS Mobi app.

SAIPA warning on auto-assessments

In a statement released by SAIPA on Tuesday, July 14, the institution’s Centre of Tax Excellence manager, Malesela Letoala, said taxpayers should not assume that an auto-assessment is automatically correct.

Letoala said SARS issued auto-assessments to taxpayers whose information has been obtained from employers, medical schemes, fund administrators, financial institutions and other third-party data providers. While many taxpayers may not need to submit a tax return, they remain responsible for ensuring that the information reflected in their assessment is complete and accurate.

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He said taxpayers should also note that an auto-assessment is not an indication that SARS has verified every aspect of their tax affairs. If any income, deductions or tax credits have not been reported, they will not automatically be reflected in the assessment.

“It remains the taxpayer’s responsibility to ensure that all taxable income has been declared and that any additional deductions or credits they are entitled to claim are included before the filing deadline,” he said.

Before relying on an auto-assessment, Letoala said taxpayers should confirm that:

• All employment, investment, rental, foreign and other income has been declared
• Banking details are current and correct
• Medical aid contributions and retirement fund contributions are accurate
• Any additional deductible expenses or tax credits not reflected by third parties have been considered
• Supporting documentation is retained should SARS request verification at a later stage

SAIPA warns against tax scams

Letoala urges taxpayers to remain vigilant when receiving any communication claiming to be from SARS.

Tax filing season is also a peak period for cybercrime and phishing scams. Criminals frequently impersonate SARS through fraudulent emails, SMSs, WhatsApp messages and telephone calls, using fake tax refunds, settlement notifications, letters of demand, audit notices and even a summons to create urgency and trick taxpayers into revealing confidential information or making payments into fraudulent bank accounts.

“Taxpayers should verify all SARS correspondence by logging directly into SARS eFiling or the SARS Mobi app rather than clicking on links contained in emails or SMSs. If you are unsure whether a communication is genuine, contact SARS through its official channels before taking any action.”

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Tips to stay safe this tax season

• Never share your eFiling login details, banking info, OTPs, or passwords in response to unexpected messages.
• SARS will never ask for banking details via email, SMS, or WhatsApp, nor will they send links to banking sites or ask for payments into private accounts.
• Make payments through official methods. Most South African banks have SARS pre-loaded as a verified beneficiary.
• Do not open, reply to, or forward suspicious emails or texts.
• Report suspected phishing attempts directly to SARS and check the known scam register on the official SARS website. To report or to get more information on phishing, send an email to phishing@sars.gov.za or call the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870.