Tax season can be stressful, especially if you don’t know the basics. Thankfully, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) eFiling platform is user-friendly and straightforward, which means that basic returns can be submitted in less than an hour.

Here’s some help to get you started on your eFiling journey.

How to register for SARS eFiling

SARS has the following channels that you can use to submit your income tax return (ITR12):

• If you are using a personal computer, you can register and submit via the eFiling website.
• If you prefer to use your smartphone, you can submit your ITR12 with the SARS MobiApp. You will need an eFiling account to log in. If you don’t have an account, you can tap on the register button and follow the prompts to get set up.
• If you are hesitant to complete the forms yourself, you can make an appointment and visit a SARS branch, where an agent will be able to help you. Make sure you take all the necessary documents with you.

The advantage of registering on eFiling is that you can manage your own tax affairs. After you submit your eFiling registration request to SARS, they will verify your details and send you an update via email or the eFiling portal.

Once the verification process is complete, you’ll be asked to upload extra documents via the eFiling website, such as a copy of your ID, your latest proof of residence, your latest bank statement, and a photograph of you holding your ID book or card. Once you have uploaded your documents, SARS will send you confirmation with the last few steps to finalise the process. If your registration is approved, a one-time password (OTP) will be sent to you. Enter this OTP to complete your eFiling registration and login.

How do I get a tax number?

Fortunately, standing in long queues to apply for a tax number is a thing of the past.

Your personal income tax number is now automatically assigned to you when you register for SARS eFiling. The system can pick up whether you already have a tax reference number when you sign up.

If you don’t know if you have a tax reference number, SARS advises you to use the SARS Online Query System with ‘What’s my tax number?’ as your query type. You can also call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277. SARS will only provide your tax number to you, your tax practitioner, or a person you have granted power of attorney to deal with your tax affairs.

Note: To be able to register for eFiling via your computer, you must have a valid South African ID. However, if you are a foreign national and have a passport only, you can book an appointment with SARS, where they will help you register for eFiling. 

How do I know if I need to submit a tax return to SARS?

Once you have registered, you can use the SARS USSD code to check if you must submit an income tax return. Simply dial *134*7277# from the cellphone number that you registered with on eFiling and select the service that you need.

When in doubt, it’s better to submit a tax return so that you don’t have any nasty surprises later. Remember that SARS can also help you by auto-assessing your tax return if your tax affairs are simple.

SARS has a comprehensive tutorial on how to register for eFiling.