Tax and SARS knowledge base
What documents does SARS usually request for verification?
What documents does SARS usually request for verification?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
The verification letter for your case is the controlling list. As common examples, SARS says it may require employee tax certificates, certificates for local or foreign interest and foreign dividends, retirement-annuity contribution certificates, medical-aid certificates, travel logbooks and other documents supporting income or deductions declared on the return.
The notice, account screen or correspondence for your own case remains the starting point. SARS processes and routes vary by tax type, service and the information on its system. Keep every record you use and avoid treating a general workflow as confirmation that a tax amount, penalty or collection action has been resolved.
What this means in practice
Start with your return rather than a generic checklist. Each source document should connect to a particular amount or claim. For employment income, that may be an IRP5 or IT3(a). For investment income, it may be the relevant financial-institution certificate. For a travel claim, the logbook must support the specific travel information used in the return. For a medical claim, keep the certificate and records that explain what was claimed.
The list can be longer for a taxpayer with rental income, a side business, multiple employers, foreign income or a capital transaction. Conversely, a taxpayer with only salary income may be asked for a smaller set of records. The safest way to prepare is to read the notice word by word and match every request to the supporting documents retained when completing the return.
A careful record trail matters. Save the original SARS communication, note the tax reference and period, and make a dated list of the actions you take. If you use eFiling, retain the acknowledgement or confirmation page. If the issue involves a payment, add bank proof and the payment reference. This makes it easier to identify whether the problem is an account-allocation issue, a missing document, an incorrect assessment, or a service problem.
Step-by-step
- Save the SARS letter and make a checklist from its wording. Include the case number and deadline at the top.
- Download the submitted return and identify the exact field or amount behind each request.
- Gather original source documents, not screenshots of totals alone. Ensure certificates show the taxpayer, period and amount where relevant.
- For deductions or expenses, retain invoices, proof of payment and a schedule explaining how the claimed amount was calculated.
- For travel claims, keep the logbook and the records used to calculate the claim. For business or rental items, retain the relevant income and expense records.
- Name files clearly and keep them readable. SARS publishes formats and other upload requirements, so check the current route before uploading.
- Submit only through the correct case or eFiling process, then retain proof. If SARS asks for a further record, respond to that request rather than assuming the first package was complete.
Before submitting anything, reread the selected option and the reference number. A good process is to compare the proposed action with the original SARS notice, the latest Statement of Account and your underlying records. Save a PDF or screenshot of the confirmation and check the account or case status afterwards. If the screen gives a validation failure or SARS asks for more information, respond to that specific message rather than submitting a duplicate request without checking the records.
Documents and records to keep
- SARS verification letter and case number.
- IRP5 or IT3(a), bank and investment certificates, RA and medical certificates.
- Travel logbook, invoices, proof of payment and calculation schedules where relevant.
- Return copy and upload acknowledgement.
Also retain copies of the return, assessment or declaration to which the matter relates. Keep the source records in an orderly folder, with meaningful file names, and retain both the evidence and the proof that it was submitted. Do not alter a document to make it fit an expectation. If a record is unclear, provide the original record and a short factual schedule that points to the relevant date, amount or declaration.
Important limits and exceptions
SARS's list is illustrative and the letter may ask for something different. A certificate alone might not support a deduction, expense allocation or calculation. Do not disclose more personal information than requested, and do not alter records. Check current SARS upload requirements before sending files because online specifications can change.
A general guide cannot decide the correct remedy where the facts are disputed, a deadline is short, a material sum is involved, or another person has acted for you. A complaint, upload, query or account request may not replace a statutory objection, appeal, payment arrangement or other tax-specific process. Use the current SARS correspondence to decide whether a separate step is required.
When to get tailored advice
Get tailored advice where records do not match the return, a calculation is complicated, a business or rental activity is involved, or the requested document cannot be obtained before the SARS deadline.
TaxProof can help you organise a chronology, reconcile records and identify the questions that need an answer. It cannot make a SARS decision for you. Get prompt tax or legal advice where a final demand, audit request, estimated assessment, large balance, enforcement risk, confidentiality concern or formal deadline is involved.