Each year, thousands of South Africans receive auto-assessments from SARS and assume their tax affairs are sorted. But accepting the auto-assessment without a second thought could cost you—in refunds, compliance, and peace of mind. Below, we break down common myths and what you should actually do instead.
❌ Misconception 1: “I don’t need to do anything if I get an auto-assessment.”
Reality: SARS might prefill your return, but you must still review it carefully. If you agree with the information, accept it. If not, file an amended return within 40 business days. If you stay silent, it’s seen as acceptance—even if the return contains mistakes.
❌ Misconception 2: “Auto-assessments mean I’m exempt from filing a tax return.”
Reality: You may still need to file manually, especially if:
- You earned income from freelancing, side gigs, or rental properties
- You received foreign dividends
- You want to claim deductions (e.g. medical expenses, donations) that aren’t part of SARS’s third-party data
❌ Misconception 3: “SARS will automatically fix any errors in my assessment.”
Reality: SARS uses third-party data, but it’s not foolproof. Data might be incomplete, outdated, or missing entirely. If you don’t manually check and correct issues, errors will stand—and could lead to penalties.
❌ Misconception 4: “My full income is always reflected in the auto-assessment.”
Reality: Some income streams don’t automatically feed into SARS’s system—especially casual work, private investments, or crypto earnings. You are legally responsible for declaring everything, not just what SARS already sees.
❌ Misconception 5: “Accepting the auto-assessment ensures a faster refund.”
Reality: Acceptance may speed up processing, but refunds still depend on:
- Successful bank account verification
- No outstanding debt owed to SARS
- Whether SARS flags your return for a review
A faster refund isn’t guaranteed, even if you accept the return immediately.
✅ Bonus Tip: Take Control Before the Clock Runs Out
If you don’t accept the auto-assessment and don’t file an amended return within the 40-day window, your only option later is a formal dispute—which is far more complex.
�� Final Thought: Tax compliance is about ownership. Even in the age of automation, no system can fully replace your own attention to detail. So take a few minutes, double-check the numbers, and stay in charge of your money.