How to Get Your SARS TCS PIN (Tax Compliance Status) — Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Reviewed & Verified
Written by the Independent Editorial Team · Reviewed & Verified by Solly Maanaso, CA(SA)

The paper Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) no longer exists. Since 2015, SARS replaced it with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system — a digital PIN you request via eFiling and share with any third party who needs to verify your compliance status online. This guide explains exactly how to get it.

I need a TCS PIN for myself
Need it for a tender, contract, or foreign investment
Get my TCS PIN →
I need to verify someone else's TCS
Bank, government department, or company verifying a supplier
How to verify a TCS PIN →
JUMP TO: What is TCS? Am I compliant? Get your TCS PIN TCS types How to verify If non-compliant FAQ

What is the TCS and why did it replace the paper TCC?

In 2015, SARS replaced the paper-based Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system. The key difference:

Old: Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) New: Tax Compliance Status (TCS)
Paper document; valid for a fixed periodDigital system; real-time status
Posted or collected from SARS branchRequested online via eFiling or SOQS
Third party held a physical documentThird party verifies electronically using your PIN
"Snapshot" at time of issueCurrent compliance status at date and time of verification
The most important difference: the TCS reflects your live compliance status when the PIN is used — not a frozen snapshot from a previous date. A third party verifying your PIN today sees your status today.
Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/

Are you tax compliant? Check before requesting your TCS PIN

Before requesting a TCS PIN, verify that you meet SARS's definition of tax compliant. Your compliance status is only as current as your actual compliance at the moment the PIN is verified.

To be tax compliant, ALL of the following must be true:

  • No outstanding tax returns for any tax type you are registered for (income tax, VAT, PAYE, etc.)
  • No outstanding tax debt — or a formal payment arrangement or suspension of payment is in place with SARS
  • Registered for all applicable taxes — if you should be registered for VAT or PAYE but aren't, that is non-compliance
  • No active tax enforcement actions (e.g., debt collection in progress without an arrangement)

Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/

How to check your compliance status before applying — My Compliance Profile (MCP):

The My Compliance Profile (MCP) on eFiling shows your compliance status for every tax type you are registered for. Check it before submitting your TCS request.

To access your MCP:

  • Log in to eFiling (sarsefiling.co.za)
  • Click the "Tax Status" tab in the main menu
  • Select "My Compliance Profile" (or it may appear on your eFiling home dashboard)
  • Your compliance status for all registered tax types is displayed

Source: SARS — GEN-ELEC-08-G01

If you are non-compliant: Fix the issue first — submit any outstanding returns, arrange a payment plan if you have debt, or register for taxes you should be registered for. Only request the TCS PIN after your MCP shows compliant status.

How to request your TCS PIN on eFiling — step by step

If you are registered for more than one tax type (e.g., income tax AND VAT, or income tax AND PAYE), you MUST complete the "Merge Entities" function on eFiling before requesting a TCS PIN. If you skip this step, your TCS will only reflect one tax type — giving an incomplete and potentially incorrect compliance result that could cause your PIN to appear non-compliant even when you are not.

How to complete Merge Entities:
  • Log in to eFiling
  • Navigate to: Home → SARS Registered Details → Merge Entities
  • Follow the prompts to link all your tax types under your single legal entity
Source: SARS — GEN-ELEC-08-G01

The TCS PIN request — step by step:

  • Step 1: Log in to eFiling (sarsefiling.co.za) Use your username and password. If you have multiple portfolios, ensure the correct taxpayer is selected from your taxpayer list.
  • Step 2: Navigate to the Tax Status section Click the "Tax Status" tab in the main menu at the top of the eFiling page.
  • Step 3: Select "Tax Compliance Status Request" From the Tax Status menu, select "Tax Compliance Status Request".
  • Step 4: Select the TCS type you need Choose from the available TCS types (see Section 5 below for which type applies to your situation): Good Standing, Tender, AIT, or Non-Resident.
  • Step 5: Complete the TCS request form and submit Complete all required information on the Tax Compliance Status Request form and click "Submit" to send your request to SARS.
  • Step 6: SARS approves your request Once SARS approves your request, you will be issued with your overall tax compliance status and a security PIN unique to this request.
  • Step 7: Receive and share your PIN Your PIN is available in three ways:
    • SMS — request that the PIN be sent to you via SMS
    • Dashboard — view it on your "Tax Compliance Status Request" dashboard in your eFiling profile
    • Printed letter — print the TCS result letter which contains the PIN
    Share this PIN — along with your SARS income tax reference number — with the third party who needs to verify your compliance.

Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/how-to-request-your-tax-compliance-status/; SARS GEN-ELEC-08-G01

Via SARS Online Query System (SOQS) — alternative method:
If you prefer not to use eFiling, you can also request your TCS PIN via the SARS Online Query System (SOQS) at sars.gov.za → "Send us a Query" → "Request your Tax Compliance Status."
Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/contact-us/send-us-a-query/

Which TCS type do you need?

TCS typeWhen you need it
Good Standing General business compliance; most contracts, supplier approvals, and business requirements where the client or counterparty needs to verify you are tax compliant
Tender Specifically for government tenders and public sector contracts; may be required in addition to Good Standing for certain procurement processes
AIT (Approval International Transfer)
Renamed from FIA and Emigration 		When transferring money abroad — foreign investment allowance, sending money overseas, or where previously called "FIA" or "Emigration" in the old system
Non-Resident For non-residents managing South African tax obligations
How many PINs can you have?
You can request multiple TCS PINs — a unique PIN is issued for each request. If a third party requires a new verification (e.g., for a new tender), you request a fresh PIN each time.
Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/how-to-request-your-tax-compliance-status/

How a third party verifies your TCS PIN

What you give them:
When sharing your TCS PIN, give the verifying third party two pieces of information:
  1. Your SARS income tax reference number
  2. Your TCS PIN (obtained from your eFiling dashboard, SMS, or printed letter)
That is all they need. They do the rest online.

How verification works (for the verifier) via eFiling:

  • Log in to their own eFiling profile
  • Select the "Tax Status" tab
  • Select "Tax Compliance Status Verification"
  • Select "New Verification Request"
  • Enter your tax reference number and PIN
  • Enter the security code shown on screen
  • The system displays the taxpayer's details — the verifier confirms this is the correct taxpayer
  • The current tax compliance status appears, colour-coded with a description

Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/how-to-verify-tax-compliance-status/

Via SARS Online Query System (SOQS):
Third parties can also verify TCS via SOQS at sars.gov.za → "Verify a Tax Compliance Status." They will need the same tax reference number and PIN.
Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/contact-us/send-us-a-query/
The result is real-time:
When the PIN is used for verification, the result reflects the taxpayer's compliance status at that specific date and time. A PIN does not lock in a status — if the taxpayer becomes non-compliant after issuing the PIN, the verifier will see a non-compliant result.

What to do if you're non-compliant — and need a TCS quickly

If your TCS request returns a non-compliant result (or your MCP shows outstanding issues), you need to resolve the underlying compliance issue before a compliant PIN can be issued.

IssueFix
Outstanding tax returns (not submitted) Submit all outstanding returns via eFiling immediately — income tax, VAT, PAYE, provisional tax, etc.
Outstanding tax debt Call SARS on 0800 00 7277 to arrange a payment plan or debt suspension. Once an arrangement is in place, SARS may update your compliance status.
Not registered for a required tax (e.g., VAT above threshold) Register via eFiling (RAV01) immediately
Registered for a tax type you should no longer be (creates ghost liabilities) Contact SARS to deregister
After fixing:
After resolving the underlying issue, request a new TCS PIN. Compliance status updates are generally reflected on eFiling within 24–48 hours of the correction — though complex issues may take longer.
If you're under time pressure for a tender or contract:
Contact SARS urgently on 0800 00 7277. Explain the situation — SARS may be able to prioritise the assessment. Also speak to the tender issuer — some allow a short window for compliance evidence.

Source: SARS — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a TCS PIN from SARS?

Log in to SARS eFiling at sarsefiling.co.za → click the "Tax Status" tab → select "Tax Compliance Status Request" → choose the relevant TCS type (Good Standing, Tender, or AIT) → complete and submit the form. Once SARS approves your request, you receive a unique security PIN which can be sent to you via SMS, viewed on your eFiling dashboard, or printed as a TCS result letter. You can also request via the SARS Online Query System (SOQS) at sars.gov.za.

What replaced the South African Tax Clearance Certificate?

The paper-based Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) was replaced by the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system in 2015. Instead of a paper document, taxpayers now receive a digital security PIN after requesting their TCS via eFiling or the SARS Online Query System. Third parties verify compliance electronically using the PIN and the taxpayer's tax reference number — the result reflects the taxpayer's current compliance status at the time of verification.

What is the difference between Good Standing and Tender TCS types?

Both "Good Standing" and "Tender" TCS types confirm that the taxpayer is tax compliant. Good Standing is used for general business purposes — contracts, supplier approval, financial transactions. Tender is specifically for government and public sector tenders. Some procurement processes may require the Tender type specifically. If in doubt, request both — each generates a unique PIN.

What is the Merge Entities function and why does it matter for TCS?

If you are registered for more than one tax type (e.g., income tax and VAT), you must complete the "Merge Entities" function on eFiling before requesting a TCS PIN. Without Merge Entities, your TCS will only reflect compliance for one tax type — giving an incomplete and potentially incorrect result. To merge: log in to eFiling → Home → SARS Registered Details → Merge Entities → follow prompts.

How does a third party verify my TCS PIN?

Give the third party your SARS income tax reference number and your TCS PIN. They log in to their own eFiling profile → Tax Status tab → Tax Compliance Status Verification → New Verification Request → enter your tax number and PIN → the system displays your current compliance status, colour-coded. They can also verify via the SARS Online Query System (SOQS). The result reflects your compliance status at the date and time of verification.

My TCS PIN shows non-compliant — what do I do?

Check your My Compliance Profile (MCP) on eFiling (Tax Status → My Compliance Profile) to identify which tax type is non-compliant. Common causes: outstanding returns, outstanding debt, or not being registered for a required tax. Submit outstanding returns immediately via eFiling, arrange a payment plan with SARS (0800 00 7277) for any outstanding debt, or register for any missing tax types via RAV01. After resolving the issue, request a new TCS PIN — compliance status typically updates within 24–48 hours.

Related guides

Tax compliance

eFiling guides

Tools

Back to: ← Tax Compliance — Complete Guide

Sources and references:

All information on this page is sourced from, or verified against, the following official and authoritative references:

  1. SARS — Manage your Tax Compliance Status — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/
  2. SARS — How to Request your Tax Compliance Status — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/how-to-request-your-tax-compliance-status/
  3. SARS — How to Verify Tax Compliance Status — sars.gov.za/individuals/manage-your-tax-compliance-status/how-to-verify-tax-compliance-status/
  4. SARS — Guide to the Tax Compliance Status functionality on eFiling (GEN-ELEC-08-G01) — View Official PDF Guide
  5. SARS — Guide for Government Institutions on Tax Compliance Status (GEN-ELEC-19-G01) — sars.gov.za/guide-for-government-institutions-on-tax-compliance-status-tcs/
  6. SARS — Send us a Query (SOQS) — sars.gov.za/contact-us/send-us-a-query/

Last reviewed: June 2026. Update when SARS revises the TCS system or GEN-ELEC-08-G01.

Request TCS PIN on eFiling →