Tax and SARS knowledge base
How do I activate a Transfer Duty account on eFiling?
How do I activate a Transfer Duty account on eFiling?
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Direct answer
Use the SARS Transfer Duty eFiling guide to activate the Transfer Duty service in the correct authorised organisation profile before preparing a transfer-duty declaration. Confirm the conveyancing practice, user authority and property-transfer mandate first. Activation provides administrative access only. It does not decide the transfer-duty amount, exemption or whether the property transaction can proceed.
What this means in practice
Transfer-duty work is highly sensitive to identity, authority and transaction records. A user may have eFiling access but not have the appropriate organisation service, or may be operating for a different practice. Check the exact legal entity, registered user and case mandate before submitting any information.
Keep activation separate from the property file. The activation record should show the practice, authorised user, date, SARS reference and confirmation. The property file should contain the agreement, parties, property data, valuations or consideration, mandate and later declaration evidence. Separating the records helps prevent confidential transaction documents from being uploaded against the wrong taxpayer profile.
Step-by-step
- Confirm the relevant conveyancing practice and the person authorised to act. Verify the organisation profile rather than relying on an individual's saved browser session.
- Read the current SARS Transfer Duty eFiling guide and use its activation process. The interface can change, so do not follow historic screenshots without checking the current guide.
- Select the correct organisation profile and request or activate the Transfer Duty service. Enter requested information accurately and preserve the confirmation.
- Resolve any representative, user-rights or profile-link issue through the prescribed SARS process. Do not share passwords or submit a transaction through another firm's account.
- Verify that the Transfer Duty service is visible and that the user can access the appropriate function. Record the result in the practice access register.
- Set internal review controls for property files, declaration preparation and payment authorisation. Activation should be completed before a registration deadline creates pressure.
- Only then prepare the TDC01 declaration and related documents from the verified property file.
Documents and records to keep
- Organisation and representative evidence.
- User authority and Transfer Duty activation confirmation.
- Property-transfer mandate and transaction documents.
- Later TDC01, payment and SARS correspondence records.
Important limits and exceptions
The eFiling account is not a ruling and does not replace conveyancing, property-law or tax analysis. A transaction can require careful treatment where parties are connected, consideration is unusual, a trust or company is involved, or a claimed exemption is available. Check current SARS requirements for every property file.
When to get tailored advice
Get assistance if a practice cannot activate the service, the user profile is wrong, a representative change is pending, the transaction is high value or a transfer-duty exemption or valuation question is uncertain.