On 18 April 2016 the Tax Clearance Certificate application process as we know it was amended by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This is good news as your Tax Clearance Certificate may now be obtained online via e-filing immediately.

Taxpayers can now activate the Tax Status Bar on their e-filing profile to view their compliance status and apply for a Tax Clearance for Good Standing, Tenders, Foreign Investment Allowance (individuals only) and Emigration (individuals only).

The Tax Clearance Certificate will only be issued if the taxpayer is tax compliant, as follows:

  • No moneys are outstanding
  • All Income Tax and Provisional Tax Returns to date have been submitted
  • The taxpayer is registered for all tax types they are liable to be registered for
  • Registered particulars are up to date
  • No other documents requested by SARS are outstanding

Taxpayers can print their Tax Clearance Certificates straight from e-filing and taxpayers are provided with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to provide to third parties to verify the taxpayer’s tax compliance status and the validity of the Tax Clearance Certificate on e-filing.

Tax Clearance Certificates issued prior to 18 April 2016 will be valid until their expiry dates, after which the new process must be used to obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate.

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