Tax and SARS knowledge base
How do I submit a return that SARS has issued but I cannot see?
How do I submit a return that SARS has issued but I cannot see?
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Direct answer
After you log in successfully to SARS eFiling, choose Returns, then Returns Issued, then Personal Income Tax (ITR12). Select the tax year and choose Request Return. When SARS generates it, the Income Tax Work Page appears. Select My tax return (ITR12) to open the editable declaration.
This is an eFiling navigation route. It does not solve a missing login, profile-access problem or an incorrect assessment.
What this means in practice
The key is to choose the right return and year. A return can be issued in eFiling but not yet open on the page you first viewed. SARS's FAQ directs users to Returns Issued and then to the Personal Income Tax (ITR12) section to request the relevant year.
Once requested and generated, the Income Tax Work Page should display. The My tax return (ITR12) link presents an editable declaration for the chosen period. Before entering information, gather the certificates and records for that same year. Filing a return using the wrong year's documents can create a separate problem.
For the 2026 individual filing season, SARS says non-provisional taxpayers have until 23 October 2026 and provisional taxpayers have until 22 January 2027. The later deadline is not a general extension for every individual.
Step-by-step
- Log into the correct eFiling profile.
Use the registered taxpayer's profile and confirm you have access to the relevant taxpayer. If you cannot log in, this request-return route cannot fix the access problem.
- Open Returns Issued.
Select Returns from the eFiling menu, then Returns Issued. This is different from assuming the return will appear automatically on the first work page you open.
- Select Personal Income Tax (ITR12).
Choose the ITR12 service and select the appropriate year of assessment. Check the year against your certificates and tax records.
- Request the return.
Select Request Return. SARS says that, once the return is generated, the Income Tax Work Page displays.
- Open the editable ITR12.
Select My tax return (ITR12) from the Income Tax Work Page. Complete the declaration for the selected period, checking prepopulated data against your original records.
- Submit only after review.
Check personal information, income and deductions, then submit the completed return through eFiling. Retain the confirmation and later assessment notice.
Documents and records to keep
- Tax number and eFiling access details kept securely.
- IRP5 or IT3(a) and other income certificates.
- Records supporting deductions and other return entries.
- ITR12 submission confirmation.
- ITA34 and subsequent SARS correspondence.
Important limits and exceptions
Requesting a return does not mean it is due, complete or ready to submit. Follow the relevant filing requirements and deadline for your taxpayer type. This article does not decide whether you must file.
Do not use this navigation guide to correct a profile-access issue, an auto-assessment dispute or a missing certificate. Each has its own SARS process. If the selected return displays information from a third party that is wrong, ask the source provider to correct it with SARS.
The steps are for an individual ITR12 on eFiling. They do not describe company, trust or other return types.
When to get tailored advice
Get help if you cannot access the correct profile, cannot identify the tax year, have missing or conflicting records, or need to submit a complex return. TaxProof can help prepare a year-specific record list and filing checklist. SARS controls eFiling access and the return process.
Related TaxProof guides
- Submit a tax return in South Africa
- What should I do if my IRP5 is missing from my SARS return? (B03-ADM-009)