How to find SARS letters and notices on eFiling

Direct answer

Log in to the correct eFiling profile, open SARS Correspondence and select Search Correspondence. Use available filters, such as tax type, tax year, dates, correspondence type, letter type, notice type or reference number, then select View for the matching result.

This is the safest way to retrieve a letter that SARS has issued to your profile. It does not explain what every letter means or remove any deadline stated in that letter.

What this means in practice

SARS places letters, notices and messages in SARS Correspondence. The search filters are particularly helpful if you have several years, different tax types or a large amount of correspondence. Start broad if you know only the approximate date, then narrow the result using the tax year, letter or notice type, or reference number.

Make sure you are in the correct taxpayer profile before searching. A person who manages more than one taxpayer may otherwise retrieve correspondence for the wrong profile. Keep the tax year and reference number with any document you save.

Step-by-step

1. Log in to the correct eFiling profile.

Use your own authorised eFiling access. If you manage more than one taxpayer, confirm the selected individual or entity first.

1. Open the correspondence search.

SARS's user-profile guide says you can select SARS Correspondence from the left menu and then Search Correspondence. If you have navigated away and the item is no longer visible, select Returns from the top menu to return to the correspondence area.

1. Enter useful search criteria.

Use one or more available filters. Individual return correspondence may be searched using tax type, tax year, letter type, notice type, date range, message type or reference number. Use the information you have from the letter alert or tax record.

1. Select Search and review the results.

The results show correspondence that matches the selected profile and criteria. If you cannot find the letter, adjust a filter such as the year or date range rather than assuming SARS did not issue it.

1. Open and save the official letter.

Select View for the relevant item. Save a copy with the tax year and reference. Read the letter itself before acting on a short description in an email or a notification panel.

1. Use the document's own instruction.

A correspondence search retrieves the letter. If it requests documents, payment or another action, use the case-specific instruction and date in the actual letter.

Documents and records to keep

• Authorised access to the correct eFiling profile.
• Tax type, tax year, date range or reference number where known.
• Downloaded official letter or notice.
• Related return, assessment, statement or evidence where relevant.

Important limits and exceptions

The results depend on correspondence issued to the selected eFiling profile. Do not assume every SARS communication is visible in one identical place for every taxpayer or service.

Finding a letter is not the same as understanding its effect. A notice may concern an assessment, supporting documents, a debt, a dispute or another process. The title alone is not a safe basis for legal or tax advice.

When to get tailored advice

Get help where a letter concerns a disputed assessment, verification, audit, enforcement, debt or a response date you do not understand. Keep the original document available when seeking help.

TaxProof can help you organise SARS correspondence and identify the administration route it points to. SARS determines the action required under the specific letter.

Related TaxProof guides

• SARS verification, audit and tax debt
• Why did I receive a SARS letter I do not understand? (B02-ADM-004)

Sources

• SARS, Guide to Register for eFiling and Manage your User Profile
• SARS, Guide to submit your Individual Income Tax Return via eFiling