How to register for tax and SARS efiling overview
SARS efiling: You must register as a taxpayer with the South African Tax Service (SARS) if your annual income exceeds a certain threshold. You must register within sixty days after your first income.
Form IT77 has been terminated for people, and the only way to register as an individual is to visit a SARS branch, where you will be registered on the system.
You must submit:
- Evidence of identification
- Evidence of address
- Evidence of bank details
Once you have been tax registered and issued a tax number, you can register for eFiling at www.sarsefiling.co.za (link is external) and file online income tax returns when tax season begins.
If you do not register for eFiling, SARS will mail you a paper form to fill out and return.
In order for SARS to determine whether you must pay additional tax or receive a refund, you must file a tax return.
There are three ways to register for tax
1.Registration of a vehicle for Personal Income Tax:
When you register for the first time for SARS eFiling without a tax reference number, SARS will automatically register you and assign you a tax reference number. Remember that a valid South African ID is required.
Follow these simple steps to sign up for eFiling:
As a registered taxpayer, you can join up for the SARS eFiling service, which not only enables you to file a return, make payments to SARS, or get a Tax Clearance certificate via an electronic platform, but also gives you access to several other benefits.
Click REGISTER on the SARS eFiling website www.sars.gov.za; or Download the MobiApp and select REGISTER from the menu. After registering, you can take on many positions, such as:
- Being oneself when controlling one’s own personal taxes;
- As the registered representative or an employee of a corporation; As an agent on behalf of another:
Certified tax professionals. - Foreigner acting on behalf of a company or an individual who has been assigned authority by a certified tax practitioner.
- After your eFiling registration is complete, SARS will recognize you as an e-filer.
SARS will validate the gathered information during the registration procedure. The result will be conveyed through email or on your eFiling registration verification page. If your registration is successful, a One-Time-Password (OTP) will be given to your preferred method of contact so you may finish your registration.
Registration statuses:
- successful,
- refused,
- and awaiting supporting documentation.
If the status is not successful, the taxpayer is unable to use eFiling and must instead react using the letter received.
SARS attempts to activate new eFiling profiles within 48 hours if no accompanying documentation is necessary.
Where an eFiling registration is not processed within 48 hours and supporting documents are required, please visit www.sars.gov.za,
- click Login under the eFiling banner,
- enter the username and password you created during registration,
- click Home; User, and then Pending Registration for further instructions regarding the processing of your eFiling registration.
Similarly, you can register for SARS eFiling on the SARS MobiApp by following the same steps.
Need help to register on eFiling? If you need assistance registering for Income Tax, below is an useful tutorial video on the SARS YouTube channel.
how to register as a taxpayer and file your tax return; your tax obligations as a business and as an employer; or how to contact SARS for more information.
2. Register via your Employer through SARS eFiling:
The SARS registration function of SARS eFiling enables employers to submit employee income tax registrations to SARS. See the Handbook on Tax Reference Number (TRN) Inquiry Services on eFiling for additional information.
3. Request an eBooking consultation with SARS
If you are NOT yet tax-registered, please take note:
Prior to visiting a SARS branch, you must have an appointment; the ONLY way to schedule an appointment if you are NOT yet registered is to call the SARS Contact Centre at 0800 00 7277 and select option 0. (zero).
A SARS representative will schedule the appointment on your behalf.
If you are already registered for tax, only the following two eBook appointment channels are available to you:
Send an SMS with the following information and format to 47277 (iSARS):
Booking ID/Passport number/Asylum Seeker number
This SMS service is restricted to Personal Income Tax-registered taxpayers/representatives (PIT). This service is not offered to tax professionals. Read further
Request an appointment using the online form for eBooking before visiting a branch. Make sure to bring the required supporting documentation.
