Personal Income Tax Season (ITR12)
Check SARS Auto-Assessment Status
Verify if SARS generated an automatic ITA34 tax assessment for your profile and ensure travel, home office, and medical deductions are not left unclaimed.
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eFiling Navigation & Turnaround
Where to Find & Edit Your Auto-Assessment
Refund Payout: 72 Hours | Edited Verification: 21 Business Days
eFiling Navigation Path: Log into eFiling → Returns → Returns Issued → Personal Income Tax (ITR12) → Request Correction
Verified SARS Portal
Check Your Auto-Assessment Status Directly with SARS
Use official SARS digital channels to check auto-assessment selection notifications, refund status, and ITA34 calculations.
Auto-Assessment Guide
How to Check & Edit Your SARS Auto-Assessment
01
Open the SARS Auto-Assessment Status Lookup or eFiling
Navigate to tools.sars.gov.za/sarsonlinequery/assessmentlookup or log into SARS eFiling and click "Returns > Returns Issued > Personal Income Tax (ITR12)".
02
Enter Your 13-Digit SA ID or Passport & Tax Number
On SOQS, input your South African ID number or passport number and 10-digit income tax reference number to check if your profile was selected for the July Auto-Assessment batch.
03
Inspect Your Original Notice of Assessment (ITA34)
On eFiling, open "Notice of Assessment (ITA34)" and compare the third-party data pre-populated by SARS: employer IRP5/IT3(a), medical scheme certificate, retirement annuity IT3(f), and bank interest IT3(b).
04
Audit Missing Deductions Before Clicking Accept
SARS auto-assessments NEVER include travel logbooks against code 3701, out-of-pocket medical expenses not submitted to your medical aid, home office expenses, wear-and-tear, or solar/CGT exclusions.
05
Request Return to Edit & File a Revised ITR12
If deductions are missing or rental/freelance income must be declared, click "Request Correction" on your ITR12 work page, capture the full deductions, and submit before the October non-provisional filing deadline.
Common Traps & Rejections
Why You Shouldn’t Blindly Accept a SARS Auto-Assessment
Omitted Travel Logbook & Out-of-Pocket Medical Claims
Because employers and medical schemes only submit certificate totals, SARS auto-assessments omit business kilometres (code 3701) and qualifying out-of-pocket medical receipts—costing taxpayers thousands in lost refunds.
Expired 40-Business-Day / Filing Season Edit Window
If you miss the annual Tax Season deadline for non-provisional taxpayers (typically late October), eFiling locks the "Request Correction" button unless you apply for an extension or lodge a Section 104 Notice of Objection (NOO).
Undeclared Side-Hustle, Rental, or Crypto Income
Accepting an auto-assessment that omits rental income, freelance invoices, or capital gains exposes you to understatement penalties of up to 200% under Section 222 of the Tax Administration Act.
Refund Locked by Unverified Banking Details (RAV01)
Even when an auto-assessment shows a negative credit balance (refund due), SARS places a banking stop on the payout if your bank account has changed or was not used in the last 3 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I do nothing after receiving a SARS Auto-Assessment SMS?
Under current SARS rules, you do not need to click "Accept" if you agree with the auto-assessment—SARS automatically finalizes it. However, if you are owed a larger refund from unclaimed deductions or have additional income to declare, you must actively click "Request Correction" and file an edited ITR12.
How long does a SARS auto-assessment refund take to pay out?
For unmodified auto-assessments where banking details on RAV01 are active and verified, SARS pays out refunds exceeding R100 within 72 business hours. If you edit the return to add deductions and trigger verification, SARS turnaround is up to 21 business days.
What is the exact SARS eFiling path to edit an auto-assessment?
Log into SARS eFiling -> click "Returns" -> "Returns Issued" -> "Personal Income Tax (ITR12)" -> select the current tax year -> click "Request Correction" to unlock the editable ITR12 wizard.
What if the deadline to edit my SARS auto-assessment has already passed?
If the standard Tax Season filing window has closed, you must submit a formal Request for Extension or lodge a Notice of Objection (NOO) under Section 104 of the Tax Administration Act with supporting schedules.
Can My Accountant review my auto-assessment before the deadline closes?
Yes! Our registered tax practitioners review your ITA34 against your IRP5s, travel logbook, medical receipts, and Section 11F retirement contributions to ensure you claim every legal rand owed to you.
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