If SARS eFiling rejects a document upload, the error message may not explain the real problem. Start with the file itself. A photo that looks readable on your phone can still be too large, too high resolution, password protected, or saved with a filename that creates problems during upload.
Check these before uploading again
- Keep each supporting document under 5MB.
- Use PDF or another accepted file format for eFiling.
- Avoid password-protected bank statement PDFs.
- Use simple filenames with letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
- Make sure the scan is readable before compressing it.
Why bank PDFs often fail
Many bank statements are encrypted or password protected. Even if you can open the file, SARS may not be able to process it cleanly as supporting material. The safer workflow is to print the statement, scan the printed copy, and upload the scanned PDF.
When to use TaxScanZA
Use TaxScanZA when you have a paper document, certificate, receipt, or printed statement and need a SARS-ready file. The app scans the document, optimises it for eFiling, checks the main upload requirements, and exports the file through the share sheet.

