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SARS Tax Clearance Certificate (Tax Compliance Status PIN)

Last updated: 23 October 2026

Need a tax clearance certificate for a tender, a bank, a client or CSD? SARS no longer issues a paper certificate. It uses the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system, where you request a TCS PIN and the other party uses that PIN to check your status on SARS eFiling. If your SARS profile is fully compliant, you can request the PIN yourself. If it is red, or you don't have the time or eFiling access, Maltech-Africa can handle it for you from Pretoria, remotely, with no office visits.

Tax clearance certificate or TCS PIN: what's the difference?

They mean the same thing in practice. Many tenders and forms still say "tax clearance certificate", but SARS now confirms your status through a TCS PIN. Whoever asks for the certificate is really asking for your PIN.

Who asks for it?

  • Government departments and municipalities (tenders and quotations)
  • Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration and verification
  • Banks and funders
  • Larger clients who vet their suppliers
  • Applications that require proof of good standing

What SARS checks before you are compliant

  • You are registered for the taxes that apply to you.
  • All returns that are due have been submitted.
  • You owe SARS nothing, unless you have a payment arrangement in place.
  • You have answered any outstanding SARS requests for information.

Your status is not permanent. It changes with your tax behaviour, so a missed return can turn a green profile red.

Can I get it myself?

Yes. Requesting the PIN on eFiling costs nothing, and if your profile is green it can be quick. What costs businesses time is a red profile, because you first have to find out why, then fix it before SARS will approve the request.

How Maltech-Africa helps

  • Reviewing your SARS compliance profile and finding what is turning it red
  • Submitting outstanding returns (IRP6, IT14 and other returns)
  • Setting up payment arrangements where you owe SARS
  • Handling the Tax Compliance Status request for the purpose you need (tender, CSD, good standing or other)
  • Giving you the PIN and explaining how to share it
  • Practical help if SARS disputes or questions your status

We work remotely. You never need to visit our office or a SARS branch.

How it works

  1. Message us on WhatsApp or through the Contact page.
  2. We review your SARS profile with your authorisation and tell you what needs fixing.
  3. We fix the gaps and submit your request.
  4. You receive your TCS PIN. We confirm the timeframe after we review your profile.

What it costs

SARS does not charge for issuing the PIN. Maltech-Africa's fee covers the compliance work and the submission, and we quote it after reviewing your profile. If you are a startup bidding for tenders, our fixed-price TCS PIN Tender Package covers the PIN, CSD registration, CIPC alignment and a tender document pack. Any SARS penalties, interest or tax debt you owe are separate.

Behind on compliance and worried about the cost?

Many businesses wait because penalties have built up. Our Promise to Pay Service lets you start with a deposit and pay the rest weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Frequently asked questions

Does SARS still issue a tax clearance certificate?

Not a paper one. SARS replaced it with the Tax Compliance Status system, where you get a PIN that others use to check your status online.

How much does SARS charge for a TCS PIN?

SARS does not charge for it. You pay us for the compliance work and the submission, not for the PIN.

Why is my SARS compliance profile red?

The usual reasons are outstanding returns, unpaid tax debt without a payment arrangement, a tax type you should be registered for but aren't, or an unanswered request from SARS.

How long does it take?

That depends on what needs fixing and how quickly SARS processes it. We confirm the likely timeframe after we review your profile.

Do I need a TCS PIN to register on CSD or bid for a tender?

Usually yes. Tenders and CSD require proof that your tax affairs are in order, and the PIN is how that is verified.

Can you guarantee SARS will approve my status?

No. SARS makes the decision, and no one can guarantee it. We make sure your profile is correct, your returns are filed and your request is submitted properly, and we follow your case through to an outcome.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. See our Promise to Pay Service.

Do I need to come to your office?

No. We handle everything remotely.