SRD Declined - IRP5 Registered (SARS PAYE Records)

Updated on 13 June 2026

If your SASSA SRD status shows "IRP5 Registered" (sometimes spelled "IPR5"), SASSA's automated check found a SARS tax certificate under your ID. The IRP5 is the document your employer files with SARS when they pay PAYE on your salary. If any employer issued one for you in the current tax year, SASSA reads it as "this person has income" and declines you - even if you stopped working months ago.

What "IRP5 Registered" decline means

The IRP5 is a SARS tax certificate your employer issues at the end of each tax year. It summarises the salary they paid you and the PAYE they deducted. SASSA cross-checks your ID against SARS records and:

• If any IRP5 exists in your name for the current or recent tax year, you are flagged as "IRP5 registered".
• SASSA reads this as proof of income, even if the job ended months ago.
• The IRP5 stays in SARS records for years - so the flag can hit you long after you stop working.

Common causes

• You worked in the past tax year but have since lost the job - the IRP5 is still on file (most common reason).
• You worked briefly (a few weeks of casual or temp work) - even a short stint generates an IRP5.
• Your former employer has not closed your tax record after you left.
• SARS records have not been updated to show you are no longer working.
• You are currently earning above R624 per month - in which case the decline is correct.

How to fix it

1. Step 1: Log in to SARS eFiling at sarsefiling.co.za and pull a Statement of Account or your latest Notice of Assessment (ITA34). This shows your actual taxable income for the year.
2. Step 2: Get a UI19 form from your former employer. This is the official document confirming the date you stopped working. It is the strongest single piece of proof.
3. Step 3: Print 3 months of bank statements showing no salary deposits.
4. Step 4: Get a sworn affidavit confirming you are currently unemployed and your only income is below R624 per month. Free at any SAPS station.
5. Step 5: Submit a reconsideration on srd.sassa.gov.za within 90 days of the decline. Upload all four documents and write a one-line explanation.

If you ARE still earning income above R624/month

The SRD R370 income threshold is R624 per month. If your current monthly income is at or above that:

• You are not eligible for SRD R370.
• The decline is correct and an appeal will not succeed.
• If your income drops below R624 in a later month, you can reapply for that month - SASSA reassesses month by month.

Sample appeal wording

"My last employment ended on [date]. The IRP5 in SARS records is from that previous job. I have no current income above R624 per month. Attached: SARS Statement of Account dated [date], UI19 from [former employer], 3 months of bank statements, and a sworn affidavit. Please reconsider this decline."

How long does this take?

• Reconsideration: 30 to 60 days typical.
• Appeal to ITSAA if reconsideration is declined: 30 days from the decline to lodge; then 60 to 90 days for a decision.
• End-to-end: 3 to 6 months total if both steps are needed.

See how long does each SASSA step take? for the full timeline.

FAQ

What does IRP5 registered mean?

SARS has a PAYE tax certificate (IRP5) on file for you. SASSA reads this as "you have income" and declines.

I left my job months ago. Why does SASSA still say I have an IRP5?

The IRP5 covers the tax year up to the month you left. It stays on SARS records, so the flag persists even after you stop working.

How do I prove I no longer earn an income?

SARS Statement of Account, UI19 from former employer, 3 months of bank statements, and a sworn affidavit. Submit all four.

I earn casual income under R624 per month. Do I qualify for SRD?

Yes. The threshold is R624 per month. Appeal with proof your current income is below it.

What is the difference between IRP5 and PAYE?

PAYE is the monthly tax deduction; IRP5 is the year-end certificate summarising it. SASSA checks the IRP5 record.

See also

• All SRD declined reasons
• SRD declined - main guide
• SRD declined: UIF registered
• SRD declined: alternative income source
• SRD declined: government payroll registered
• SRD appeals - step by step
• SRD reconfirmation guide
• Check your SRD status

Sources

• South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) - sassa.gov.za
• SASSA SRD Portal - srd.sassa.gov.za
• South African Revenue Service (SARS) - sars.gov.za
• SARS eFiling - sarsefiling.co.za
• Department of Social Development - dsd.gov.za

About this guide: maintained by OurPower and updated regularly to reflect current SASSA procedures and payment amounts.