What you need to know about SARS auto-assessments in 2026

What is a SARS auto-assessment?

A SARS auto-assessment is an automatic tax assessment issued to certain taxpayers.

Instead of waiting for you to complete your tax return from scratch, SARS uses the information it already has from employers, medical schemes, banks, retirement funds, investment providers and other third-party data providers. It then uses that information to calculate your tax assessment for you.

This can make tax season much easier, especially if your tax affairs are simple. But "easier" does not always mean "complete." SARS can only use the information it has received. If some of your income or deductions are missing from that data, your auto-assessment may be wrong, and the responsibility to fix it is still yours.

When will SARS issue auto-assessments in 2026?

For the 2026 tax season, SARS has confirmed that auto-assessments will run from 1 July to 12 July 2026.

If you are selected, SARS should notify you by SMS, email, WhatsApp or through your SARS eFiling profile. New for 2026, SARS can deliver your Notice of Assessment via WhatsApp if you don't use email or eFiling.

The rest of the 2026 filing season dates are:

• Non-provisional taxpayers: 13 July 2026 to 23 October 2026
• Provisional taxpayers: 13 July 2026 to 22 January 2027
• Trusts: 13 July 2026 to 22 January 2027

Is the deadline for auto-assessments the same as the tax season?

Not quite. Here's the part many people miss: an auto-assessment isn't something you actively click "accept" on. If you agree with it, you simply do nothing, and it becomes final automatically. In other words, doing nothing counts as agreeing, so you want to be sure you actually agree before you let that happen.

If something is missing or wrong, you need to file your tax return through SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp or with TaxTim before your filing deadline:

• Non-provisional taxpayers have until 23 October 2026.
• Provisional taxpayers have until 22 January 2027.

Should I accept my SARS auto-assessment?

Don't agree to it blindly.

SARS has made the process easier, but you are still responsible for checking that your assessment is correct, and there's no "accept" button protecting you. If you leave it alone, SARS's version simply becomes your final tax position.

Your auto-assessment may be wrong if:

• SARS did not receive all your tax certificates.
• SARS received outdated or incorrect information from a third party.
• You earned extra income that doesn't appear on your auto-assessment.
• You had deductions that SARS did not include.
• Your medical aid, retirement annuity or investment information is incomplete.
• Your banking or personal details are outdated.

A quick check before you agree could help you avoid two common problems:

• Under-declaring income, which could lead to penalties or SARS queries later.
• Missing deductions, which could reduce your refund or mean you pay more tax than necessary.

One important note: if the third-party data itself is wrong, such as an incorrect IRP5 or medical-aid figure, you cannot simply edit it on your return. You'll need to ask the provider, your employer, medical scheme or fund, to correct the information and resubmit it to SARS.

What income could be missing from my auto-assessment?

SARS receives a lot of information automatically, but it may not know about everything. Check whether you need to declare any of the following:

• Freelance income
• Side-hustle income
• Rental income
• Foreign income
• Investment income
• Crypto-related income or gains
• Income from a second job
• Any other income that does not appear on your auto-assessment

If any income is missing, don't ignore it. You need to file your tax return and include the correct information, even if SARS has already issued, or paid out, your assessment.

What deductions could be missing from my auto-assessment?

Your auto-assessment may also leave out deductions you're allowed to claim. Check whether any of these apply to you:

• Retirement annuity contributions you paid directly
• Section 18A donations to approved charities
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses
• Home-office expenses, if you qualify
• Travel expenses, if you had a travel allowance or business travel claim
• Wear and tear on qualifying work-related assets
• Other deductions based on your personal tax situation

Not every taxpayer can claim these. But if you qualify and they're missing, your auto-assessment may show a smaller refund than you're entitled to.

How can TaxTim's Auto-Assessment Checker help?

TaxTim's Auto-Assessment Checker helps you work out whether your SARS auto-assessment is actually complete, before you agree to it.

It asks simple questions about your tax situation and helps you spot the common items that often go missing: extra income, retirement annuity contributions, medical expenses, donations, home-office expenses or travel claims.

That's especially useful when you're not sure whether your auto-assessment is right. Run the Checker before you agree, and it will help you decide whether you can safely leave your assessment as it is, or whether you should file a return to add what's missing.

SARS already refunded me. Can I still file my tax return?

Yes. If your auto-assessment is incomplete or incorrect, you can still file, even after a refund has been paid. SARS pays refunds of R100 or more automatically, usually within 72 hours, so a refund landing in your account is not confirmation that your assessment was complete.

If you file and include extra deductions, SARS may issue a new assessment with an additional refund.

If you file and include extra income, SARS may issue a new assessment showing you owe more tax.

Either way, the goal is the same: make sure your tax return is accurate.

If my auto-assessment is wrong, am I protected from penalties?

No.

Leaving a wrong assessment alone does not protect you. You remain responsible for making sure your income and deductions are declared correctly, and the fact that SARS calculated your auto-assessment does not remove your responsibility to make sure it is correct. If you leave out income and SARS discovers it later, you could face penalties and interest.

That's exactly why it's worth checking your auto-assessment before you agree to it.

What happens if I miss the filing deadline?

If you need to file a return because your auto-assessment is wrong, do it before your deadline. For most non-provisional taxpayers, the 2026 deadline is 23 October 2026. File late, and SARS may charge administrative penalties.

Quick checklist before you agree with your auto-assessment

Before you let your SARS auto-assessment become final, check:

• Is all your income included?
• Are your IRP5 details correct?
• Are your medical aid details correct?
• Are your retirement annuity contributions included?
• Did you make direct retirement annuity payments?
• Did you make Section 18A donations?
• Did you pay qualifying medical expenses yourself?
• Did you earn freelance, rental or foreign income?
• Did you have a travel allowance?
• Do you qualify for a home-office claim?
• Are your banking details correct?

If you're not sure, run TaxTim's Auto-Assessment Checker before you agree.

Final word

SARS auto-assessments can make tax season easier, but they're not something to ignore. Remember, if you do nothing, you've agreed, whether the numbers are right or not.

If your tax affairs are simple, your auto-assessment may well be correct. But if you earned extra income or have deductions to claim, it's worth checking before you agree to it. A few minutes now could help you avoid SARS problems later, and help you claim the refund you're actually entitled to.

Not sure if your auto-assessment is complete? Use TaxTim's Auto-Assessment Checker before you agree.