Forgot SARS eFiling Password or Username? How to Reset (2026)
Locked out of your SARS eFiling account? Select your situation below — you'll have access restored in a few minutes.
Forgot password
I know my username but can't remember the password
Reset my password →
Forgot username
I can't remember my username
Recover my username →
Forgot both
I've forgotten both username and password
Recover both →
Not receiving OTP
My OTP isn't arriving or my contact details have changed
Fix OTP issue →
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Forgot password
Forgot username
Forgot both
OTP not arriving
Update contact details
MobiApp reset
Call SARS
FAQ
How to reset your SARS eFiling password
-
On the eFiling login screen, click "Forgot Password"
Go to sarsefiling.co.za → the login screen appears → click the "Forgot Password" link below the login fields. -
Enter your username and select your OTP channel
• Enter your username
• Select your preferred channel to receive the One-Time PIN (OTP): your registered email address or your registered cellphone number
• Click "Submit" or "Send OTP" -
Enter the OTP and create your new password
• Enter the OTP received on your chosen channel
• You will be presented with a screen to create a new password
• Enter and confirm your new password
• Click "Submit"Password tip: Avoid repetitive or sequential characters (e.g., "aaaaa" or "12345"). Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Open the SARS MobiApp and tap "Forgot Password" on the login screen
- Enter your username → tap "Next"
- Select your OTP channel → tap "Send OTP" → enter the OTP → tap "Submit"
- Create your new password on the screen displayed → tap "Submit"
How to recover your SARS eFiling username
Your eFiling username is the one you chose when you registered — it is not your email address or ID number (though some users chose to make it similar).
- Go to sarsefiling.co.za → on the login screen, click "Forgot Username"
- Complete the relevant information as prompted — typically your ID number, email address, or cellphone number registered to your eFiling account
- Follow the prompts — your username will be returned to you via your registered contact details
What if you then need to reset your password too?
After recovering your username, the system will prompt you to reset your password if needed.
After recovering your username, the system will prompt you to reset your password if needed.
Forgot both your username and password?
Don't worry — it happens. The solution is simple: always recover your username first. Password reset follows automatically.
- Go to sarsefiling.co.za → click "Forgot Username" on the login screen → complete the prompts to recover your username
- After your username is retrieved, you will be automatically prompted to reset your password if needed. You do not need to run a separate password reset process.
OTP not arriving — what to do
First: wait and retry
OTPs can occasionally be delayed by up to a few minutes. Before taking further action:
• Check both your inbox and your spam/junk folder
• If you selected cellphone: check SMS messages and ensure you have signal
• Wait 5 minutes then request a new OTP by going back and clicking "Send OTP" again
OTPs can occasionally be delayed by up to a few minutes. Before taking further action:
• Check both your inbox and your spam/junk folder
• If you selected cellphone: check SMS messages and ensure you have signal
• Wait 5 minutes then request a new OTP by going back and clicking "Send OTP" again
If your email address or cellphone number registered to your eFiling account is no longer active or accessible, you will not receive the OTP. You need to update your security contact details.
How to update your contact details — PRE-LOGIN (if you can't log in at all):
- Go to the eFiling login screen (sarsefiling.co.za)
- Click "Update Contact Details"
- South African citizens: You will be directed to the biometric facial recognition step — complete this to verify your identity, then update your email address or cellphone number.
-
Non-South African citizens or biometric verification failure: You cannot update contact details online. Call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277 or book a SARS branch appointment at sars.gov.za.
How to update your contact details — WHEN LOGGED IN:
If you can log in (e.g., via a remembered password and alternate channel), update your contact details from within eFiling:
- Log in to eFiling
- Click "My Profile" in the left menu
- Select "Profile and Preference Setup"
- Scroll to the "Security Contact Details" section
- Update your email address or cellphone number
- Verify via OTP sent to your new contact
Two-factor authentication and passwordless login
SARS eFiling offers additional security options you can enable:
- Two-factor authentication: After entering your username and password, a push notification is sent to your SARS MobiApp. Approve the notification on your phone to complete login — no OTP required.
- Passwordless authentication: Allows you to access your eFiling profile via a push notification to the SARS MobiApp without entering a password at all.
Both features require the SARS MobiApp to be installed on your smartphone and linked to your eFiling profile.
Tip: Enabling two-factor or passwordless authentication means future lockouts are less likely — even if you forget your password, you can still access your account via the app notification.
Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/i-need-help-with-my-tax/your-tax-questions-answered/i-forgot-my-efiling-password/
When you need to call SARS
Call SARS on 0800 00 7277 if:
- You are not a South African citizen and cannot update your contact details online
- You failed the biometric verification step when trying to update contact details
- Your tax number is linked to someone else's eFiling account (e.g., a former employer or tax practitioner)
- You have tried all the steps above and still cannot access your account
- You receive a message saying your eFiling account has been locked due to multiple failed attempts
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Book a SARS branch appointment:
If a phone call doesn't resolve your issue, book an appointment at your nearest SARS branch. Book online at sars.gov.za or call 0800 00 7277. Bring your South African ID document (original) to any branch appointment.
If a phone call doesn't resolve your issue, book an appointment at your nearest SARS branch. Book online at sars.gov.za or call 0800 00 7277. Bring your South African ID document (original) to any branch appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
On the eFiling login screen at sarsefiling.co.za, click "Forgot Password," enter your username, select whether to receive your OTP by email or cellphone, enter the OTP when it arrives, and create a new password. On the SARS MobiApp: tap "Forgot Password," enter your username, tap "Next," select your OTP channel, enter the OTP, and create a new password.
On the eFiling login screen, click "Forgot Username," complete the information as prompted (typically your ID number and registered contact details), and follow the prompts. Your username will be returned to you via your registered email or cellphone. Note: your eFiling username is the name you chose when you registered — it is not your email address or ID number.
Always recover your username first. On the eFiling login screen, click "Forgot Username" and follow the prompts. Once your username is retrieved, the system will prompt you to reset your password if needed. You do not need to run a separate password reset process.
First, check your spam/junk folder and wait up to 5 minutes. If the OTP still doesn't arrive, your contact details on eFiling may have changed. From the eFiling login screen, click "Update Contact Details" — South African citizens will need to complete biometric facial recognition to update their email or cellphone number. Non-SA citizens or those who fail biometric verification must call SARS on 0800 00 7277 or book a branch appointment.
From the eFiling login screen, click "Update Contact Details." If you are a South African citizen, you will complete biometric facial recognition to verify your identity, then update your email or cellphone number. If you are not a South African citizen, or if biometric verification fails, you must contact SARS on 0800 00 7277 or book a branch appointment. If you can already log in, update contact details via My Profile → Profile and Preference Setup → Security Contact Details.