Business tip: keep a current SARS tax compliance PIN ready
A current SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN can prevent delays when a tender, bank or supplier asks a small business to prove compliance.
A small business that waits for a tender or supplier request before checking its tax status can lose valuable time. SARS allows taxpayers to request a Tax Compliance Status PIN through eFiling and share it with an authorised third party.
Check the status before it is needed
Log in to the business's SARS eFiling profile and open the Tax Compliance Status function. Confirm that registration details, outstanding returns and amounts owed are up to date before requesting the PIN.
A compliance result can change after the PIN is issued. SARS says a verifier sees the taxpayer's current status at the date and time the PIN is checked, rather than a permanent certificate fixed on the issue date.
Share the PIN carefully
The PIN allows a third party to verify the business's status. Send it only to the organisation that has asked for proof and keep a record of when and why it was shared.
A TCS PIN does not replace the documents required by a tender, bank or supplier process. Read the request carefully and submit every listed form before the deadline.
Resolve problems early
If eFiling shows a non-compliant status, open the detail rather than repeatedly requesting a new PIN. The issue may relate to an outstanding return, debt or registration information that needs correction.
Keeping the profile current makes the compliance check a routine administrative step instead of an urgent problem when an opportunity appears.