IPR5 Registered (ipr5_registered) — What It Means, How to Fix It and How to Appeal (not_ipr5_registered)
At a Glance: What To Do First
Confirm the exact month showing ipr5_registered on your SRD status portal. Check whether you received any salary, taxable income, backpay, or bonus payment during that specific month. If you did, the decline is correct for that period. If you did not receive any employment income during that month, you have grounds to appeal using not_ipr5_registered. Contact SARS to confirm what record triggered the match and use their written response as part of your evidence.
What IPR5 Registered Means on the SRD Portal
When your SRD application shows IPR5 Registered, the automated SRD check detected an employment or tax-linked record matched to your ID for the assessed month. The term IPR5 is commonly used by applicants but the record being detected is an IRP5, which is the tax certificate your employer submits to SARS when they deduct PAYE from your salary. Any active IRP5 or PAYE record on your ID for the assessed month triggers this decline automatically.
The wording appears differently depending on which portal you are using:
SRD status portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status): IPR5 Registered
SRD appeals portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal): ipr5_registered
Your appeal reason on the appeals portal: not_ipr5_registered
Because SRD is assessed per month, even a single once-off payment such as a bonus or backpay can trigger this decline for only that one month while other months remain unaffected. This means you may be approved for some months and declined for others depending on when payments were recorded.
If you genuinely received taxable employment income during the assessed month, the decline is correct and an appeal is unlikely to succeed for that period. If your employment ended before the assessed month, or the record is incorrectly linked to your ID, you have a valid basis to appeal.
What an IRP5 Is and Why It Triggers This Decline
An IRP5 is a tax certificate that an employer is legally required to submit to SARS for every employee from whom PAYE is deducted. It records the employee’s income, tax deductions, and personal details for each tax year. SARS maintains a database of all IRP5 records submitted by employers across South Africa.
When SASSA runs its monthly SRD eligibility checks, it cross-references applicant ID numbers against SARS employment and tax records. If an IRP5 or PAYE record on your ID shows income for the assessed month, the SRD system flags it as ipr5_registered.
The problem is that IRP5 records are not always updated in real time. An employer may submit an IRP5 that reflects income for a period after your employment actually ended. Backpay, leave payouts, or bonuses processed after your last working day can appear in the tax record for a later month even though you no longer work there. This is one of the most common causes of incorrect ipr5_registered declines.
Common Causes Behind This SRD Decline
Active employment income during the assessed month. You received a salary or taxable income from an employer during the month in question. The decline is correct.
Payroll or tax record update lag. Your employment ended but your employer had not yet updated the payroll or submitted your final IRP5 to SARS at the time of assessment. The system still shows an active employment record for you.
Backpay or bonus paid after leaving. A final payment such as leave payout, bonus, or backpay was processed in a month after your last working day. This payment was recorded under your ID as taxable income for that specific month, triggering the decline for that month only.
Incorrect IRP5 submission by employer. Your employer submitted an IRP5 with incorrect dates, an incorrect ID number, or income reflected for the wrong period. This is an employer error that needs to be corrected at source.
IRP5 linked to the wrong person. An IRP5 was submitted with your ID number but belongs to a different person. This can happen due to a data capture error during onboarding at the employer.
Freelance or consulting income taxed as PAYE. Some freelance arrangements are set up as PAYE deduction contracts. If you did consulting or contract work processed through PAYE, it will generate an IRP5 and can trigger this decline.
SARS Follow-Up: Confirm What Record Triggered the Match
If you believe the ipr5_registered decline is incorrect, contact SARS before submitting your appeal to confirm exactly which employer record is linked to your ID and for which period income is recorded. Their written response becomes part of your appeal evidence and significantly strengthens your case.
What To Include So SARS Can Respond Faster
State the assessed month and year that shows ipr5_registered on your SRD portal. Provide your ID number and your tax reference number if you have one. Ask specifically whether any employer has submitted an IRP5 or PAYE record reflecting income linked to your ID for the assessed month. Ask for the response in writing so you can attach it to your appeal.
Copy and Paste Email Template
Subject: Request for IRP5 or PAYE Record Confirmation — [Your ID Number] — SRD Decline: ipr5_registered
Message:
Dear SARS,
I am writing to request confirmation of whether any employer has submitted an IRP5 or PAYE record reflecting income linked to my ID number for [Month Year]. My SRD R370 grant application was declined for this month with the reason IPR5 Registered (ipr5_registered). I believe this may be an error and require official confirmation to support my appeal to ITSAA.
Full name: [Your full name as on your ID] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Tax reference number: [If you have one] Month in question: [Month and Year]
Please confirm whether any active IRP5 or PAYE employer record reflects income linked to my ID for [Month Year], and if so, which employer submitted the record. I require this confirmation in writing for submission as supporting evidence with my SRD appeal.
Thank you.
Send to: contactus@sars.gov.za
SARS Official Contact Channels
SARS general email: contactus@sars.gov.za
SARS tax practitioners email: pcc@sars.gov.za
SARS WhatsApp: 0800 11 7277
SARS contact centre: 0800 00 7277
SARS contact page: sars.gov.za/contact-us
When you email SARS you will receive an automated reply with a case number. Keep this and quote it in all follow-ups. Include your ID number in every communication.
Fast Checks and Fixes Before You Appeal
Confirm the exact month showing ipr5_registered on your SRD status portal. Write down the month before doing anything else.
Check your bank statement for the assessed month. Look for any salary deposits, PAYE-related payments, or employer references in your transactions. If you see a deposit from a government or private employer during that month, the decline is likely correct for that period.
If you were not employed during the assessed month, check whether you received any once-off payment such as a leave payout, bonus, or backpay from a former employer. Even a single payment processed in that month can trigger the decline for that month only.
If you were genuinely not employed and received no taxable income, contact SARS using the template above to identify which record triggered the match. Once you have their response, use it together with your bank statement and employer letter as your appeal evidence.
If the record does not belong to you, prepare a written dispute statement and contact both SARS and SASSA to report the incorrect linkage.
Portal Appeal Option for This Status: not_ipr5_registered
Select not_ipr5_registered on the SRD appeals portal only when your evidence clearly shows that no taxable employment income was received during the assessed month or that the IRP5 record is incorrectly linked to your ID.
Evidence Checklist for not_ipr5_registered
All evidence must be specific to the assessed month. Reviewers focus on whether the IRP5 record applied to the specific month being disputed.
Bank statement for the assessed month showing no salary or taxable income deposits during that period. A full month statement showing your name, account number, and all transactions is the most persuasive format.
Termination letter or contract end confirmation from your employer, on official letterhead, stating your last working day and your last salary payment date. The dates must fall before the assessed month.
SARS written confirmation of whether any employer has submitted an IRP5 or PAYE record for the assessed month on your ID. This is highly valuable evidence and is worth obtaining before submitting your appeal.
Written dispute statement if the record does not belong to you, explaining which employer is listed, why the record is incorrect, and what proof you have that the employment did not occur.
Certified copy of your South African ID document for written appeal submissions.
Portal screenshot showing the exact month and ipr5_registered wording.
Do not upload documents unrelated to the assessed month. A letter or statement covering a different period does not support your appeal for the month being reviewed.
How To Submit Your SRD Appeal: not_ipr5_registered
Go to the official SRD appeals portal.
Enter your ID number and the phone number registered to your SRD application. Request the OTP and enter it to verify your identity. Select the specific month you are appealing. Each declined month must be appealed separately even if the reason is the same across multiple months. Select not_ipr5_registered as your appeal reason. Upload your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Accept the declaration and submit. You will receive an SMS confirming your appeal has been received.
Written Appeal for Cases Older Than 90 Days
If the 90-day online window has passed, the appeals portal will block the month you want to appeal. You can still submit a written appeal.
Download the official SASSA appeal form from sassa.gov.za. Complete the form for the specific declined month. Attach certified copies of your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Submit in person at your nearest SASSA office or send by registered post to your provincial SASSA office. Keep your proof of submission. Include a covering letter explaining which month you are appealing, why the IRP5 record does not apply to you, and why the online deadline was missed.
Written appeals are reviewed by the same ITSAA process and carry the same weight as online submissions.
If Your SRD Appeal Is Declined
If ITSAA declines your appeal the outcome for that specific month is final through the internal process.
Before accepting the outcome, check the following:
Confirm you appealed the correct declined month. Confirm the month still shows ipr5_registered. Check whether your bank statement and employer letter clearly covered the assessed month with no income shown. If your documents referenced a different period or the dates were unclear, this is likely why the appeal failed.
If you still disagree after the final internal decision:
Judicial review through the High Court. You have 180 days from the final ITSAA decision to apply for judicial review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). This is a formal legal process that requires legal assistance.
Free legal assistance. Legal Aid South Africa and Black Sash both provide free advice to grant applicants. Contact either organisation to understand whether your case has merit before pursuing a court process.
Correcting the IRP5 record at source. If your employer submitted an incorrect IRP5, ask them to submit a corrected IRP5 to SARS. Once SARS updates the record, future months may no longer trigger this decline. This does not change the outcome for the already-declined month but prevents the problem from recurring.
Tips and Scam Awareness for IPR5 Registered Declines
Practical Tips That Improve Outcomes
If you received a once-off payment such as backpay or a bonus after leaving employment, flag it clearly in your dispute statement. Explain what the payment was for, when it was made, and highlight the relevant transaction on your bank statement so the reviewer can see it immediately. A once-off payment only affects the month it was processed in, so other months where no payment occurred can still be appealed successfully.
Ask your employer to include your employee number or payroll reference as well as your ID number on their confirmation letter. This makes it easier for ITSAA to match the letter to the specific IRP5 record in question.
Request a full month bank statement rather than a screenshot of individual transactions. A complete statement showing all credits and debits for the month is harder to dispute and more persuasive to reviewers.
If SARS is slow to respond to your email, follow up using the WhatsApp number or call centre. Note the reference number from any interaction and include it in your appeal as evidence that you attempted to obtain official confirmation.
Scam and Fraud Red Flags
Tax record removal scams. Do not pay anyone claiming they can delete your IRP5 record or remove you from the SARS database. No private person or service has access to SARS records. This is a targeted scam for this specific decline reason.
Fake employer letters. Do not purchase official-looking termination or employment letters from anyone. ITSAA reviewers are trained to identify fraudulent documentation and submitting a fake document can result in a permanent ban from the SRD grant.
OTP and PIN theft. Scammers may contact you claiming to be SARS or SASSA representatives and ask for your SRD PIN or OTP to verify your identity. Neither SARS nor SASSA will ever ask for your SRD PIN or OTP.
Unofficial portals. Use only srd.sassa.gov.za for your appeal. Any other website claiming to process SRD appeals or check IRP5 records is unofficial.
SRD appeals are completely free. Any service charging a fee to submit your appeal is a scam.
Summary: What To Do If You Are Declined for IPR5 Registered
- Confirm the exact month showing ipr5_registered on your SRD status portal.
- Check your bank statement for the assessed month to identify any salary or taxable income deposits.
- Contact SARS using the email template above to confirm which employer record is linked to your ID for that month.
- Obtain a termination letter from your former employer confirming your last working day and last salary payment date.
- Gather your supporting documents with dates clearly visible and specific to the assessed month.
- Submit your appeal at the SRD appeals portal selecting not_ipr5_registered within 90 days.
- If beyond 90 days, submit a written appeal with your documents at your nearest SASSA office.
- If your appeal is declined and you believe the decision is wrong, contact Legal Aid South Africa or Black Sash for free advice.
IPR5 Registered FAQs
Is IPR5 the same as IRP5? IPR5 is a common misspelling. The correct term is IRP5, which is the tax certificate your employer submits to SARS when deducting PAYE from your salary. The SRD decline reason ipr5_registered refers to this IRP5 or PAYE employment record.
I resigned months ago. Why is my SRD still being declined? Your employer may not have submitted your final IRP5 to SARS yet, or a once-off payment such as a leave payout was processed after you left and appeared as income for a later month. Get a termination letter showing your last working day and last salary payment date, and pair it with your bank statement for the assessed month.
I received a bonus or leave payout after my last working day. Will this affect all my future months? No. A once-off payment only triggers the decline for the month it was processed in. Other months where no income was received can still be approved or successfully appealed.
What if the IRP5 record is not mine? Contact SARS to report the incorrect record and obtain written confirmation that the record does not belong to you. Include your SARS response, a dispute statement, and your ID document in your appeal.
My employer submitted the wrong dates on my IRP5. What can I do? Ask your employer to submit a corrected IRP5 to SARS with the correct dates. Once SARS processes the correction, future months should no longer be affected. For already-declined months, appeal using your termination letter and bank statement showing no income during the assessed period.
I did freelance or consulting work processed through PAYE. Does this count? Yes. Any income processed through PAYE generates an IRP5 record. If your consulting contract included PAYE deductions, it will appear as an employment record. If the contract ended before the assessed month, get written confirmation from the client or agency and pair it with your bank statement.
Can I appeal multiple months declined for the same reason? Yes, but each month must be appealed separately on the portal. A single termination letter can be used across multiple appeals if the dates support each month, but you must submit a separate appeal for each declined month.
What if the online portal blocks an older month? Submit a written appeal at your nearest SASSA office with evidence specific to the month you are challenging. The written process follows the same ITSAA review.
How do I avoid IRP5 scams? Use only official portals. Never pay anyone to remove a tax record. Report suspicious contact to SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 or SARS on 0800 00 7277.
Official References
- SRD status portal
- SRD appeals portal
- SRD appeals guidance
- SASSA website
- SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11 (free, Monday to Friday)
- SASSA WhatsApp: 082 046 8553
- SARS contact page
- SARS general email: contactus@sars.gov.za
- SARS contact centre: 0800 00 7277
- Legal Aid South Africa
- Black Sash
Information on this page is sourced from official SASSA announcements and verified against www.sassa.gov.za. For official queries contact SASSA directly at www.sassa.gov.za or call 0800 60 10 11.
