Tax and SARS knowledge base
How do I register for the SARS MobiApp?
How do I register for the SARS MobiApp?
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Direct answer
Use the official SARS MobiApp and follow the registration screens for your situation. SARS says the MobiApp caters for individual taxpayers and registered tax practitioners. The registration process may require personal details, biometric facial authentication, selection of a security contact method and entry of a one-time pin, or OTP.
If SARS asks for supporting documents, registration is not final merely because you uploaded them. SARS says it processes and validates requested documents before registration is finalised. Use only your own device, contact details and security codes.
What this means in practice
There are two related but different questions. A person may need to register for Personal Income Tax, or an already registered taxpayer may need to set up MobiApp and eFiling access. The correct route depends on the person's existing SARS status. Do not create duplicate registration information simply because the app asks for details.
SARS identifies the MobiApp as a digital channel for individual taxpayers and registered tax practitioners. It does not make the app a general access route for every company, trust or tax type. A practitioner should use the applicable practitioner processes and must have properly linked client access, rather than borrowing a client's username or device.
The security steps are intentional. SARS may ask for biometric facial authentication, security-contact confirmation and an OTP. Complete those steps yourself. A tax adviser can explain the process, but should not receive your password, OTP, biometric image or control of your email and mobile number.
Step-by-step
- Confirm your starting position. Establish whether you already have a SARS tax reference and whether you are registering for Personal Income Tax, MobiApp or both. If your records appear duplicated or inconsistent, resolve that before attempting repeated registrations.
- Use the official app source. SARS says the app can be downloaded from Google Play, the Apple App Store or Huawei AppGallery. Check that the publisher and app name are correct. Keep the app and device operating system current before entering information.
- Read the conditions and choose Register. Open the app, review the displayed terms and conditions, then use the Register function. Follow the on-screen path that matches your taxpayer status.
- Enter accurate identity and contact details. Use details that match SARS records and a mobile number or email account you control. Incorrect information can stop validation or cause an OTP to be sent to an unusable contact.
- Complete biometric steps if prompted. SARS says you may be asked for biometric facial authentication or referred to a SARS branch. Follow the on-screen instructions in a clear setting. Do not submit biometric information through an email link, WhatsApp message or an unofficial app.
- Verify your security contact. Select the available communication method shown by SARS, then enter the OTP only in the official SARS process. Do not read the OTP to another person, even someone helping with the registration.
- Respond to a document request. If the app directs you to submit supporting documents, upload the specific requested documents. SARS says the documents are processed and validated before finalisation. Keep proof of upload and wait for the registration status or completion instruction.
- Log in and secure access. Once registration is completed, use your own username and password to log in. Review your contact details and enable an available secure authentication feature only after you understand the app's current instructions.
Documents and records to keep
- Your identity document and correct tax-reference information, where already issued.
- Mobile number and email address under your personal control.
- Any SARS registration request, document request and proof of document upload.
- Registration outcome, Notice of Registration where issued and a secure record of the user ID.
Keep passwords and OTPs out of ordinary tax files. You may record that an OTP verification was completed, but do not record the code itself. If a device is lost, secure the relevant accounts and follow current SARS recovery guidance.
Important limits and exceptions
The app's scope and device requirements can change. SARS's guide says the MobiApp caters for individual taxpayers and registered tax practitioners, so do not assume it is the right channel for a company, trust or an unrelated tax product. Use the current SARS screens and guidance for your actual service.
An OTP does not override a failed identity or document validation. SARS may request further information or refer a user to a branch. That is not an invitation to submit repeated registrations with altered facts. Preserve the message, check your records and use the instructed route.
Registration for app access is also different from filing a return. Once you can log in, check which services are available and whether a return is actually due. A successful login does not prove that every tax obligation has been met.
When to get tailored advice
Get help if biometric verification fails repeatedly, a security contact is incorrect, your tax number appears linked to another profile, an app message requests unexpected information, or you need a tax type that the MobiApp does not support. Report suspected phishing through verified SARS channels rather than following a link in the message.