Updated October 2026. SARS no longer issues Tax Clearance Certificates. This guide explains the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system that replaced them.
Tax Compliance Status (TCS) is how SARS confirms that your tax affairs are in order. Instead of a paper certificate, you request a TCS PIN on eFiling. The PIN lets a bank, a government department or a client check online whether you are tax compliant.
What is Tax Compliance Status?
TCS replaced the old Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC). Your status is not fixed. It changes with your tax behaviour, and whoever checks your PIN sees your status at the date and time they check it, not on the day the PIN was issued.
You may be asked for a TCS PIN when you tender for government work, apply for a contract, need to prove good standing, or want to move money out of South Africa.
Who needs a TCS PIN?
Any individual or business registered for tax in South Africa can request one. This includes individuals, partnerships, companies, close corporations and trusts. You only need to request a PIN when someone asks you to prove your tax status.
What SARS checks before issuing a PIN
Your compliance profile is checked in four areas:
- You are registered for all the tax types you need.
- Your returns have been submitted on time.
- You have no outstanding tax debt.
- Any supporting documents SARS asked for have been submitted.
If any area is red, you are not compliant, and SARS will not issue a PIN until you fix it.
How to check your compliance profile
Checking your status is quick, and it is worth doing before you request a PIN.
- Log in to eFiling and activate the Tax Compliance Status service (you only do this once).
- Click Tax Status in the top menu.
- Click My Compliance Profile.
You will see your profile page. If every section is green, you are compliant and can request a PIN.
If any section is red, you are non-compliant for that section and overall. Click on the red section to see what the issue is, fix it, and wait for the profile to turn green. If you disagree with the result, use the Challenge Status option at the bottom of the screen.
How to request your TCS PIN
You must be a registered eFiler with at least one tax type activated.
- Log in to your eFiling account.
- Go to My Compliance Profile and select Tax Compliance Status Request.
- Choose the type of request you need.
- Complete the request and submit it to SARS.
If your profile is compliant, SARS issues the PIN straight away. You can get it by SMS or email, view it on your Tax Compliance Status Request dashboard, or find it on the TCS result letter. Each request produces a unique PIN, and you can have it re-issued from My Compliance Profile.
Types of TCS requests
On eFiling you can choose between:
- Good Standing: proves that your tax affairs are in order, for example for a tender, a contract or a client.
- Approval International Transfer (AIT): used when moving money out of South Africa. The old Foreign Investment Allowance and Emigration applications were renamed to this.
You can also make a request through the SARS Online Query Service if you cannot use eFiling.
How someone checks your PIN
The organisation asking for proof needs your tax reference number and your TCS PIN. They can then view your status on the SARS website. They only see your compliance status, and no other information about you.
Benefits of staying tax compliant
- You can answer a tender, contract or good standing request quickly, because your PIN is issued immediately.
- You avoid penalties and interest that come with missed returns and unpaid tax.
- Banks, clients and government departments have more confidence in your business.
FAQs about Tax Compliance Status
Does SARS still issue Tax Clearance Certificates?
No. They were replaced by Tax Compliance Status and the TCS PIN.
How long does it take to get a PIN?
If your compliance profile is green, the PIN is issued immediately.
Do I need a TCS PIN for government tenders?
Usually, yes. The department will ask for your tax reference number and TCS PIN so they can check your status.
What if my profile shows red?
Click the red section to see what is wrong, for example a missing return or outstanding debt. Fix it, then request the PIN again. If you believe the result is wrong, use Challenge Status.
Can I check my status at any time?
Yes. Log in to eFiling and open My Compliance Profile.
Conclusion
A Tax Clearance Certificate is no longer needed. Today you prove your tax status with a TCS PIN from SARS. Keep your registrations, returns and payments up to date, check your compliance profile regularly, and request a PIN when someone asks for it.
Need help getting compliant or requesting your TCS PIN? Give us a shout, and our team of tax practitioners will be happy to assist you.
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