What Is SARS Auto Assessment
No. You can edit and submit your own return if you believe the auto-assessment is incorrect or missing information.
Who Gets Auto Assessed
SARS auto-assesses taxpayers with simple tax affairs, single IRP5, complete third-party data, and successful filing history. If you have rental income, business income, or complex deductions, you will need to file manually.
Should You Accept or Edit
Accept if your income is correct and all deductions are included. Edit if you have additional deductions not included, earned income not shown, or if the refund amount looks wrong.
How to Edit Your Auto Assessment
Log into SARS eFiling, find your auto-assessment notification, click Edit Return instead of Accept, complete the ITR12 with correct information, and submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to accept auto assessment?
No. You can edit and submit your own return if you believe the auto-assessment is incorrect or missing information.
What happens if I ignore it?
SARS will automatically finalise the assessment as presented, which could mean missing deductions or refunds you are entitled to.
Can I get a refund from auto assessment?
Yes. If the assessment shows you overpaid tax, SARS will process a refund to your verified bank account.
Need Help With Your Tax?
Admin Boss is a registered tax practice with over 20 years of experience helping South African individuals and businesses navigate SARS.