How do I get a SARS certificate on eFiling?

Maintaining a valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS) is an essential requirement for individuals and businesses engaging with formal financial, educational, and regulatory institutions.

Whether you are a student applying for NSFAS funding, an employee undergoing a compliance check, or a business owner applying for contracts, the TCS certificate serves as official confirmation that your tax affairs are up to date.

This guide outlines the complete process of obtaining a TCS certificate through the SARS eFiling platform. By understanding each step, you can avoid common delays caused by incomplete registration, missing submissions, or unresolved compliance issues.

Phase 1: Preparing Your eFiling Profile

Before requesting a TCS certificate, your eFiling profile must be properly configured and linked to the central tax system.

1. Secure Access to eFiling

Log in to the official eFiling portal using your registered username and password. To reduce technical issues, ensure that your web browser is updated to the latest version and that pop-ups and cookies are enabled.

For first-time users and students, it is particularly important that your identification number or tax reference number is correctly linked to your profile. Incorrect or incomplete personal details can prevent the system from verifying your compliance status.

2. Activating the Tax Compliance Status Function

The Tax Compliance Status function is not active by default. Once logged in, navigate to the “Tax Compliance Status” section in the main menu. If this is your first request, you will be required to activate the service.

During activation, you must select the tax types to be assessed. In most cases, this includes Income Tax, but additional tax types may apply depending on your circumstances. Activation ensures that your compliance is assessed holistically rather than partially.

Phase 2: Reviewing Your Compliance Profile

Once the service is activated, the system allows you to review your compliance status before issuing a PIN.

3. Monitoring Compliance Indicators

Select “My Compliance Profile” to view your current status. The platform evaluates compliance across three core areas: registration, submission of returns, and outstanding debt.

Each category is represented by a colour indicator:

• Green confirms compliance
• Red indicates outstanding issues
• Yellow reflects items currently under review

All categories must display green indicators before a TCS PIN can be generated.

4. Resolving Compliance Issues

If any category displays a red indicator, select it to view detailed information about the issue. This may include missing returns for specific tax periods or outstanding balances that require settlement.

For NSFAS applicants, registration compliance is critical. Any discrepancy in personal or registration details can delay funding verification, even when no tax liability exists.

Phase 3: Requesting the TCS PIN and Certificate

Once all compliance indicators are green, you can proceed to generate the TCS PIN.

5. Submitting a TCS Request

Navigate to “Tax Compliance Status Request” and select the appropriate reason for your application. Options include general compliance, employment verification, NSFAS applications, tender participation, or foreign investment approval.

You will be required to provide a brief description explaining the purpose of the request. This is used for administrative tracking and does not affect the outcome.

6. PIN Generation

After submission, the system generates a unique PIN almost immediately. This PIN allows authorised third parties to verify your compliance status without accessing confidential financial information.

Phase 4: Downloading and Sharing the Certificate

7. Accessing the Certificate

All TCS requests are stored in the “History” section of the Tax Compliance Status menu. From there, you can download or print the official PDF certificate containing the unique PIN.

8. Third-Party Verification

To verify your compliance, institutions require only your tax reference number and the issued PIN. Using these details, they can confirm your real-time compliance status without visibility into your income or tax calculations.

The Importance of Tax Compliance

A valid Tax Compliance Status is more than a procedural requirement. For students, it supports uninterrupted access to funding. For employees, it demonstrates reliability and regulatory responsibility. For business owners, it enables participation in contracts and financial opportunities.

Consistent tax compliance creates credibility, stability, and access to future opportunities.