Documents to prepare for a SARS debt compromise review
A debt compromise rests on full and honest financial disclosure. This checklist lists the kinds of evidence a compromise review typically needs, grouped by purpose so you can gather them ahead of time. It is an educational checklist, not a submission - and our team advises what to gather and when to share it.
Published by Tax Relief SAEditorial policy
Gather evidence in advance
This checklist helps you gather evidence in advance. It is not a request to send anything now. Depending on the matter, our team advises which financial documents are needed and how to share them. The initial enquiry needs only a short description of what has happened.
What each document is for
Documents matter because of the question they answer, not just because they exist. Each group below states its purpose and the items that typically support it.
Financial position
Shows what you own and earn, so SARS can see your overall means.
Affordability
Shows what you could realistically offer as a lump sum or over time.
Liabilities & compliance
Confirms the debt itself and that your broader tax profile is in order.
Entity & authority documents
Establishes who is making the offer and on what basis, where a business is involved.
| Purpose | Possible record | Handling note |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm the debt | Statement of account broken down by tax, penalties and interest. | Obtain from official SARS channels; verify the figures reconcile. |
| Show overall means | Income and expense summary; schedule of assets and liabilities. | Use realistic current values; gather privately before any submission. |
| Support an offer | Evidence of the source of funds for the proposed offer amount. | List unavailable items rather than leaving gaps; retain originals. |
| Establish authority | Entity resolution or mandate where a company or trust is involved. | Individuals and companies differ; do not assume one set fits both. |
Gather records privately
- Assemble these records in advance for your own preparation; list any items you cannot obtain rather than leaving gaps.
- Retain originals and submission evidence. Our team will guide you on what is needed for an initial enquiry and how to share it.
- Depending on the matter, our team advises which financial documents are needed and how to share them.
The current Collection Information Statement is linked from SARS’s published guidance on owing money. The REV267 and the Collection Information Statement guide explains the difference between the two — REV267 is an estate-duty return, not the CIS — so the right form is used. Do not mirror a downloaded form as an evergreen current version; confirm the live form each time.
Incomplete evidence weakens the request
It does not help to omit information
A compromise rests on a complete picture. Leaving out assets, income or liabilities undermines credibility and can count against the request rather than for it.
Reconstruct where you can
If bank statements or invoices are missing, they can often be reconstructed from banks, employers or third parties. Reconstructing before the submission is better than explaining a gap afterwards.
Outstanding returns may come first
If the debt rests on estimated assessments for unfiled returns, bringing those returns up to date may change the figure before any compromise is pursued.
Questions about compromise documents
Which documents establish financial position?
The core documents are an income and expense summary, a schedule of assets with realistic values, and a schedule of liabilities set against them. Together these let SARS see your overall means - what you own, what you earn, and what you owe. The assessment confirms exactly what is required for your position.
What if records are incomplete?
Reconstruct what you can before submitting. Missing bank statements can often be obtained from the bank; missing invoices from third parties. Incomplete evidence weakens rather than helps the request, so it is better to close the gaps first. If the debt rests on estimated assessments for unfiled returns, those returns may need to be brought up to date before a compromise is pursued.
Should I email bank statements now?
This checklist is for gathering in advance. Our team advises which financial documents are needed for the matter and how to share them; the initial enquiry needs only a short description of what has happened.
Use this as a checklist
Optionally mark a record category as prepared as you gather it. Preparation aid only; selecting an item does not send anything to SARS or Tax Relief SA. Selections are held in memory for this page only and reset when you reload — they are not saved or shared.
Financial position
Shows what you own and earn, so SARS can see your overall means.
Affordability
Shows what you could realistically offer as a lump sum or over time.
Liabilities & compliance
Confirms the debt itself and that your broader tax profile is in order.
Entity & authority documents
Establishes who is making the offer and on what basis, where a business is involved.
A checked box means you marked the item yourself — it does not verify the document, confirm SARS will accept it, or accept a service. Selections are held in memory for this page only and reset on reload.
Start with a description, not a document upload
A confidential assessment confirms what your compromise review will need and how documents will be collected securely. Our team will guide you on what is needed.