Tax and SARS knowledge base
How does relationship management work in the Customs Trader Portal?
How can a customs client authorise a representative without handing over its own eFiling credentials?
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Direct answer
Use the SARS relationship-management process to create a recorded relationship between the Customs and Excise client and an authorised trader representative. The relationship must be requested, accepted and linked to the appropriate role and activities.
This is safer than sharing login details because the client's own profile remains separate and the delegated relationship can be reviewed or ended.
What this means in practice
Grant the narrowest role that supports the mandate. A representative who only maintains registration relationships does not need unrestricted account access.
Review relationships when staff, brokers or service providers change. Ending a commercial contract does not guarantee that portal access has been removed.
Step-by-step
- Document the representative's mandate and permitted Customs activities.
- Confirm both parties' eFiling and Customs registrations.
- Initiate the relationship request through the prescribed portal route.
- Select the correct role and client relationship.
- Have the other party accept within the stated period.
- Test access without sharing credentials.
- Review active relationships periodically.
- Terminate access promptly when the mandate ends.
Documents and records to keep
- Signed mandate.
- Relationship request and acceptance.
- Role and activity scope.
- Periodic access review.
- Termination evidence.
Important limits and exceptions
A portal relationship does not expand the representative's legal mandate or excuse incorrect declarations.
Do not use one employee's personal credentials as a shared office login.
When to get tailored advice
Get help where an old representative remains linked, invitations expire, several branches need different roles or the client identity is duplicated.