How to register for SARS eFiling for the first time

Direct answer

If you already have a SARS tax registration, you can register for eFiling by going to the official SARS eFiling service and selecting Register. You can also start registration in the SARS MobiApp. SARS verifies the information you enter. If the verification succeeds, SARS sends a one-time PIN, or OTP, to your chosen contact channel. Entering that OTP completes the registration.

If SARS cannot finish the verification straight away, it may ask you for additional information before it sends the OTP. That is a verification step, not a reason to create another eFiling profile.

What this means in practice

eFiling registration creates an online profile that SARS verifies before it is completed. It is not the same thing as registering for income tax or deciding whether you need to submit a tax return.

The simplest path is to use details that match SARS records and a contact method that you can access yourself. SARS uses the contact details to send the OTP that completes the process. If your email address or mobile number is wrong, unavailable or belongs to somebody else, you may not be able to complete the registration safely.

Use only the official SARS eFiling website or the official SARS MobiApp. Do not give your username, password or OTP to an adviser, a caller, or someone offering to "activate" your account. An accountant or tax practitioner can be given proper access later through SARS's authorised processes; they should not need your personal login credentials.

Step-by-step

1. Confirm that you are already registered with SARS for tax.

This guide is about registering for eFiling access. If you do not yet have a SARS tax registration, deal with that first through the appropriate SARS registration channel.

1. Start on an official SARS channel.

Visit SARS eFiling and select Register, or install the official SARS MobiApp and select its registration option. Check that you are using a genuine SARS channel before entering personal information.

1. Complete the registration screens carefully.

SARS's eFiling guidance shows that the registration process asks for personal details, contact details, a username and a password. Use contact details that you control. Choose a username and password that you can keep private and recover later.

1. Submit the registration request and wait for SARS verification.

SARS verifies the information captured in the registration process. The outcome is communicated on the eFiling registration-verification page or by email. A successful verification leads to an OTP being sent to your preferred communication channel.

1. Enter the OTP yourself to complete registration.

Enter the OTP only on the official SARS registration screen. Once the OTP is successfully entered, the eFiling login screen should become available.

1. If SARS asks for more information, respond to that request rather than registering again.

SARS says it may request additional information where it cannot finalise the registration immediately. Follow the instruction in the SARS communication, provide only the relevant material requested, and keep a record of the communication or case reference.

1. Use the eFiling login screen after registration is completed.

Keep your username and password secure. If you later need help with access, use an official SARS support channel rather than sharing your credentials.

Documents and records to keep

• The personal and contact details used during registration.
• Access to the email address or mobile number selected for OTP delivery.
• Any SARS email, registration-verification outcome, case number or request for additional information.
• A secure record of your username. Keep your password and OTP private rather than storing them in a shared document or sending them by message.

SARS's eFiling registration page does not set out one fixed list of supporting documents for every registrant. The important point is that SARS may ask for additional information if it cannot complete the verification using what you initially entered.

Important limits and exceptions

Registering for eFiling does not automatically mean that a person is newly registered for income tax, nor does it answer whether a return is required. Those are separate issues.

Do not assume registration will be instant. SARS first verifies the information captured, and an OTP is issued only once SARS can take the registration to that stage. If the details do not match SARS records or SARS needs more information, follow the specific request rather than repeatedly submitting new registrations.

The process described here is for someone acting for themselves. Businesses, registered representatives and tax practitioners can have different eFiling roles and access arrangements. They should use the relevant SARS role and authority process instead of sharing personal credentials.

When to get tailored advice

Get help from a registered tax practitioner or SARS if your registration is linked to multiple tax numbers, a deceased taxpayer, a business role, a trust, an estate, or an identity mismatch. These situations can affect who is entitled to act and which profile should be used.

If you suspect that someone has already created or accessed an eFiling profile using your identity, treat it as a security issue and use an official SARS support channel rather than trying to work around the profile.

TaxProof can help you organise the SARS correspondence and records relevant to an access problem, but SARS must verify and activate eFiling registration itself.

Related TaxProof guides

• Do I need to submit a tax return in South Africa?
• How do I add or change bank details on SARS eFiling? (PILOT-002)
• Why is my SARS refund still pending? (PILOT-003)

Sources

• SARS, Register for eFiling
• SARS, Guide to submit your Individual Income Tax Return via eFiling