24/06/2026
π€ SARS Is Letting Algorithms Do the Work. Are Your Tax Affairs Ready?
The days of SARS relying solely on manual reviews are rapidly disappearing.
For the 2026 Tax Season, SARS is expected to issue approximately 6 million auto-assessments, using information received directly from employers, banks, medical schemes, retirement funds and other third-party data providers. SARS is also expanding its use of AI, machine learning and advanced data analytics to identify discrepancies and improve tax compliance. (Business Day)
While automation may make filing easier for some taxpayers, it also means:
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More data matching
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Faster identification of errors and omissions
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Increased scrutiny of undeclared income
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Greater risk of assessments being based on incomplete third-party information
An auto-assessment is not always correct.
Weβve already seen cases where taxpayers accepted SARS assessments without checking:
β’ Medical expenses omitted
β’ Retirement annuity contributions missing
β’ Travel claims not considered
β’ Rental income incorrectly reflected
β’ Investment information incomplete
Remember: SARS calculates based on the information it receives. If that information is incomplete or incorrect, the assessment may not reflect your true tax position. (Business Day)
Before accepting any SARS auto-assessment, make sure it has been reviewed properly.
At AccountWorx, we help individuals and business owners verify SARS assessments, identify missed deductions and ensure returns are accurate before finalisation.
π 082 576 4868
π§ [email protected]
π www.accountworx.co.za
AccountWorx Business Solutions
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