Tax and SARS knowledge base

How do I request a tax compliance status for a tender?

Last reviewed: 28 August 2026

Direct answer

For a tender, request a Good standing Tax Compliance Status (TCS) through SARS eFiling or the SARS Online Query Service, then share the approved PIN with the authorised verifier named in the tender process. SARS says the former Tender option no longer exists. Good standing is the TCS request used for other third-party scenarios where an organisation wants to verify a taxpayer's compliance status.

The PIN lets the verifier view the taxpayer's overall compliance status online at the time of checking. It does not replace the tender's other requirements and it does not guarantee that a bid will be accepted.

What this means in practice

Older tender documents sometimes use the phrase tax clearance certificate or suggest that there is a separate tender TCS application. SARS's current guidance says the Tender option was removed, and the Good standing TCS fulfills this role. Treat the tender's instructions as a checklist, but use the current SARS TCS category in the official system.

Before applying, inspect My Compliance Profile. SARS says taxpayers should have no outstanding returns, no unresolved debt, current registered particulars, registrations for all relevant tax products and a complete view of reference numbers through merge or declaration where applicable. A Good standing request does not cure these underlying problems. It produces an approved TCS result and PIN only if SARS approves the request.

Give the PIN to the correct organisation and keep a record of who received it. The PIN is designed for an authorised third party to verify compliance, and SARS says the third party sees current overall status rather than other taxpayer information. The procuring body may verify at a later date, so maintain compliance after submission too.

Step-by-step

Read the tender instructions carefully.

Note whether the tender gives a deadline, portal or named verification organisation. Check whether it asks for a PIN, TCS result letter or both. Do not submit another taxpayer's PIN or a screenshot without the taxpayer context.

Check My Compliance Profile.

Select the correct legal entity and inspect any registration, returns-submission or debt indicators. Resolve identified items through their own SARS processes before relying on a Good standing request.

Open the TCS request service.

SARS permits requests through eFiling or SOQS. Choose the official route available to the taxpayer and locate Tax Compliance Status Request.

Select Good standing.

Choose Good standing for tender verification. Do not select Approval International Transfer unless that is actually the purpose. The tender function is not a separate current category in the TCS menu.

Complete and submit the request.

Check the taxpayer details and declarations. Save the request confirmation, then monitor the TCS dashboard and correspondence for the outcome.

Retrieve the PIN after approval.

SARS says the approved PIN can be viewed in the TCS Request dashboard, printed in the result letter or sent by SMS on request. Keep the PIN with the tender file but restrict access.

Provide the PIN to the authorised verifier.

Send it only through the tender's specified channel or to the named organisation. Note the date, recipient and tender reference. A verifier sees status at the date and time of verification, so do not treat an earlier successful check as permanent.

Documents and records to keep

The tender instruction that requests tax-compliance verification.
My Compliance Profile evidence and action records for any issues corrected.
The submitted Good standing request, result letter and PIN.
A dated record showing the party to whom the PIN was supplied.

Important limits and exceptions

The TCS service is a compliance-verification mechanism. A successful result does not establish tender eligibility, pricing, technical capability, B-BBEE status or any other procurement criterion. Follow the procuring body's separate requirements.

SARS says a TCS PIN shows current status when checked. It can change with continued compliance. Keep returns, tax payments and registered details up to date after the tender submission, especially if verification may occur later.

When to get tailored advice

Get advice if the business has unresolved TCS indicators, several tax types, an entity-merge issue or an urgent tender deadline. TaxProof can help prepare an evidence-based compliance action list and organise the tender record. SARS decides the TCS outcome, while the procuring body decides the tender.

Related TaxProof guides

How do I get a tax compliance status PIN from SARS? (B05-ADM-005)
Why is my SARS tax compliance status not good standing? (B05-ADM-007)