HOW-TO

How to Get a SARS Tax Clearance (PIN)

The old paper tax clearance certificate is gone. SARS now issues a Tax Compliance Status PIN on eFiling that lets third parties verify you in real time.

Step by step

1. Register and log in to eFilingGo to the official SARS eFiling site (sarsefiling.co.za) and log in. If you are not registered, register first — you need eFiling access with at least one tax type (such as Income Tax) active on your profile.
2. Activate Tax Compliance StatusOpen the Tax Status menu and activate the Tax Compliance Status service. You only do this once; it then stays active on your profile.
3. Open My Compliance ProfileView your My Compliance Profile to see where you stand across returns and payments. This shows any red flags you must clear before your status can read compliant.
4. Clear any non-compliance firstIf the profile shows outstanding returns or debt, submit the returns or arrange payment (or a payment arrangement) with SARS. The PIN reflects your live status, so fix issues before requesting.
5. Request the TCS and choose the typeSelect Tax Compliance Status Request and pick the type you need — usually "Good Standing", or "Approval for International Transfer" if you are moving funds abroad. Complete and submit the form.
6. Receive and note your PINOnce SARS approves the request, it issues a unique PIN for that request. Confirm your contact details are correct so the PIN reaches you. Each request gets its own PIN.
7. Share the PIN with the third partyGive the PIN (and your tax reference number, if asked) to the organisation that needs to verify you. They enter it on eFiling to see your current status — nothing more.

If someone has asked you for a “tax clearance certificate” — a landlord, a tender office, a new client, or a bank — they are really asking whether you are in good standing with SARS. The good news is that the slow, paper-based certificate no longer exists. SARS replaced it with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system, and the whole process is free and online.

What replaced the certificate

Instead of a printed document that could be forged or go stale, SARS now issues a Tax Compliance Status PIN. You generate the PIN on eFiling and hand it to whoever needs to check you. They enter it and see your current status in real time — not a snapshot from weeks ago. It is a smarter system, because it cannot be faked and it always reflects where you stand today.

The PIN is a viewing key, not a data dump. A third party sees only whether you are compliant right now — never your income, returns or full tax history.

Before you request: get compliant

Because the status is live, requesting a PIN while you have outstanding returns or unpaid tax will simply show you as non-compliant. Start by opening your My Compliance Profile on eFiling. It lays out four areas — registration, submission of returns, debt, and supporting documents — and flags anything wrong. Submit any missing returns and settle or arrange to settle any debt first. Only then will your status read compliant.

Choosing the right type

When you make the request, SARS asks what it is for. The two you are most likely to see are “Good Standing”, which covers tenders, contracts and general verification, and “Approval for International Transfer”, which you use only when moving money out of South Africa. Pick the one that matches your need; choosing the wrong type can delay things. To even reach this screen you must be registered for eFiling with at least one tax type active — if you are not yet set up, start with how to register for SARS eFiling.

Requesting and sharing the PIN

Activate the Tax Compliance Status service once (it then stays on your profile), submit the request, and SARS issues a unique PIN for that request. Confirm your cellphone number and email are current so the PIN reaches you. You then pass the PIN to the third party, who verifies you on eFiling. Each new request generates its own PIN, so you can control who sees what and when. Because verification happens live, the third party sees your status as it is at the moment they check, not as it was when the PIN was issued — so staying compliant after you share it matters as much as being compliant when you request it. If you fall behind on a return or a payment later, the same PIN will start showing you as non-compliant. For an ongoing relationship, such as a client who re-checks you each quarter, keep your returns and payments current so the status stays green whenever they look; for a one-off tender with its own deadline, generate a fresh PIN close to when it is needed rather than relying on an old one.

Keep it free and keep it safe

There is no charge for a TCS PIN. If a “consultant” or website offers to sell you a tax clearance certificate, walk away — at best you are paying for something free, at worst you are handing your details to fraudsters. SARS communicates through sars.gov.za and sarsefiling.co.za and will never phone to ask for your eFiling password or an OTP. Phishing emails that mimic SARS are common near tax season; if in doubt, log in yourself rather than clicking a link. For the wider pattern of impersonation scams, see how to spot official-service scams.

In short, getting your “tax clearance” today means requesting a TCS PIN on eFiling, after making sure your returns and payments are up to date. Done properly it takes minutes, costs nothing, and gives the person checking you a live, tamper-proof answer.

CluedUp is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.