Is verification an accusation of fraud?

No. It is a document check. Ignoring it is how a simple query becomes an assessment you dislike.

The letter states the date. Diarise it the day it arrives.

Compliance · 6 min

SARS Verification vs Audit — What the Letter Actually Means

Most “SARS is coming for me” emails are verification. Still treat them as real.27 September 2026 All articles

Verification

SARS wants supporting documents for something you already declared: IRP5, medical certificate, 18A, logbook, invoices, IT3(b). The window is short. Upload on eFiling. Incomplete packs get you a revised assessment, not a debate.

Audit

An audit looks at whether the return is right in a wider sense. Keep the same files you should have kept anyway. A reconstructed February logbook for the whole year is a weak exhibit.

What to send

The request list, not your entire life. Bank statements help when they match the claim. A Taxzi worksheet is guidance for you — it is not a statutory form. You still send source documents.

Questions

Is verification an accusation of fraud?: No. It is a document check. Ignoring it is how a simple query becomes an assessment you dislike.
How long do I have?: The letter states the date. Diarise it the day it arrives.

Disclaimer: This is general guidance based on the South African Income Tax Act and published SARS Interpretation Notes as at the 2026/2027 year of assessment (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027). It is not professional tax advice. Deductibility depends on your facts. Confirm current figures on sars.gov.za before you file.

Find the SARS payments and refunds in your bank statements

Upload bank statements. Taxzi flags lines that may qualify under SARS rules. Mixed shops stay out until you say what they were. You confirm every claim. This is guidance — not a filed return.

Works with FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Capitec, Investec and Discovery Bank PDF statements.

Check my statement for SARS payments and refunds (free)

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