A SARS Auto Assessment is when the South African Revenue Service works out your personal income tax for you, using information already sent by employers, banks, medical schemes, retirement funds and insurers. You can read the official Filing Season guide for the current season rules.

For Filing Season 2026, SARS issued Auto Assessments from 1 July to 12 July 2026. If you were selected, SARS sent an SMS or email in that window telling you whether a refund was due, whether you owed SARS, or whether the assessment was zero.

This guide explains how to check your Auto Assessment status and what to do next. If you still need to sign in, see the XTRAfrica SARS eFiling login guide. For refund timing after an assessment, see how to check your SARS tax refund status.

Quick answer

Check your Auto Assessment status on the SARS Online Query System (SOQS) under “My Auto Assessment Status”, on SARS WhatsApp (0800 11 7277), or by asking Lwazi, the SARS AI assistant. Then review the Notice of Assessment (ITA34) on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp.

If everything looks correct, you do not need to file an ITR12. If something is missing or wrong, correct and submit your return on eFiling or the MobiApp before the non-provisional deadline of 23 October 2026.

What a SARS Auto Assessment is

According to SARS, Auto Assessment uses third-party data to populate your income tax return and calculate the assessment. SARS then issues that assessment on eFiling or the MobiApp and notifies you by SMS or email. The full explanation is on the official page How does Auto-Assessment work.

SARS typically selects taxpayers with simpler affairs, such as employment and investment income already reported by third parties. You will not normally be auto-assessed if your personal details are incomplete, or if you had other income such as rental income that is not covered by the pre-filled data.

Filing Season 2026 dates that matter