An auto-assessment is SARS's best estimate based on the data it receives from third parties — but it only knows what it has been told. Before you accept yours, run through these five checks. Each one could mean a bigger refund, or avoiding a nasty surprise later.
SARS bases the assessment on the income reported to it. If you earned anything it may not know about — rental income, freelance or side-business income, interest above the exemption, or income from a second employer — it must be declared. Leaving it off is not a saving; it is an under-declaration that can catch up with you.
Your medical aid contributions are usually reported to SARS, but out-of-pocket medical costs that you paid yourself often are not. Doctor, dentist, optometry and other qualifying expenses you covered personally may earn you an additional medical tax credit — but only if you claim them.
Contributions to a retirement annuity are tax-deductible within limits. If you contribute to an RA that is not linked to your employer, check that those contributions appear — they are one of the most commonly missed deductions, and they can meaningfully reduce your tax.
If you work from home, earn commission, or use your own vehicle for work, you may qualify to claim related expenses — but the rules are specific and you need proper records (a logbook for travel, for example). These almost never appear automatically, so an auto-assessment will usually leave them out.
Donations to registered public benefit organisations that issue a valid Section 18A certificate are deductible within limits. If you gave during the year, make sure you have the certificate and that the donation is claimed.
Reviewing an auto-assessment properly takes a trained eye. At Rockfalls Skills we check every figure, identify the deductions you qualify for, and file the corrected return on your behalf — so you pay no more than you should, and stay fully compliant with SARS.
This article is general information, not specific tax advice. Your circumstances may differ — please contact us for advice tailored to you.