SARS tax season: you could be due a bigger tax refund (even if you've been auto-assessed)

Warning: you may be eligible for a bigger tax refund

Between 1 and 12 July, SARS sent out roughly six million auto-assessments. If you received one, it probably felt like a small miracle because there were no forms and no admin to deal with. However, a common myth is that SARS already knows everything about your finances.

We've written a few examples below. If you are unclear, please check for free in 5 minutes via our tax refund AI, or contact us via email at hello@taxclaw.ai or via WhatsApp by clicking this link

In reality, SARS can only use the data they have actually been told. They calculate your auto-assessment based solely on third-party data provided by employers, medical schemes, retirement funds, and banks. If you simply do nothing, the assessment becomes final on its own. Accepting an auto-assessment by doing nothing is an approach that only works well when the underlying data SARS received was completely comprehensive.

Use our AI to maximise your tax refund - we'll sort out SARS

Get started for free with AIFile with a tax specialist

If your financial world is even slightly more complex, their information is likely incomplete. Here are a few common items that SARS often misses because they rely entirely on your personal record-keeping or delayed third-party reporting:
* Freelance income that nobody reported.
* A retirement annuity payment that landed after the data cutoff.
* A donation receipt still sitting in your inbox.
* Home office or travel expenses.

Ready to get your tax refund increase?
Complete TaxClaw’s 5-minute AI questionnaire to review your financial position against your auto-assessment. We’ll help you find ways to increase your refund and can optionally file the correction for you. We also available via email at hello@taxclaw.ai and via WhatsApp by clicking this link

Disclaimer:This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice, and is not exhaustive. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. We strongly recommend consulting with our registered tax practitioner to address your specific circumstances.