Tax and SARS knowledge base
How do I revoke my tax practitioner's shared SARS access?
How do I revoke my tax practitioner's shared SARS access?
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Direct answer
For approved Customs and Excise managed shared access, SARS says the registered representative can revoke a trader representative's access in eFiling. The representative selects the correct entity portfolio, opens User, Shared Access and View Shared Access, chooses the relevant record, reviews it and confirms revocation.
SARS says the status changes from approved to revoked and the eFiler receives a notification. Before revoking access, preserve the work file and verify that you have selected the right entity, person and role. Do not assume this action removes every other contractual, professional or system permission.
What this means in practice
Ending an accountant's access is often triggered by a change of adviser, an employee leaving, a completed Customs project or a suspected security issue. The first three normally allow a controlled handover. A suspected compromise requires faster containment, but still needs careful evidence. In both situations, identify the individual access record instead of taking a broad action against an unknown portfolio.
SARS's managed shared-access guide concerns the relationship between a registered representative, an entity and a trader representative for Customs and Excise. It is not a general instruction for changing all SARS representatives, removing a tax practitioner from every system or cancelling professional authority. The right scope prevents a good security action from accidentally interrupting a needed filing.
Prepare a short handover note before revocation where time permits. Identify outstanding applications, document requests, deadlines, submission references, correspondence, access owner and replacement person. Save copies in the entity's controlled file rather than relying on an adviser to retain the only records.
Step-by-step
- Confirm the trigger. Record why access is ending and who authorised the change. Examples include a completed mandate, new adviser, staff departure or a concern about unauthorised activity.
- Identify the exact record. Confirm the legal entity, eFiling portfolio, named representative, role and current status. SARS's guide distinguishes pending, approved, revoked, rejected, cancelled and expired records. Revocation is the action for approved shared access.
- Preserve the work file. Download or retain open RLA applications, uploaded supporting documents, correspondence, approvals and outstanding questions. Give the internal owner or incoming representative a clear list of deadlines.
- Log in as the registered representative. Use the registered representative's own eFiling access. Select the entity under Portfolio, then select User, Shared Access and View Shared Access, following the current SARS interface.
- Choose the intended access record. SARS says the system displays shared-access records and the representative can use View to select one. Review the displayed details. If it is not the exact record, return rather than revoking it.
- Revoke and confirm. Select Revoke, read the confirmation prompt and continue only after checking the entity and person again. SARS says successful processing changes the status from approved to revoked and sends the trader representative a notification.
- Save confirmation. Record the time, entity, person, role, reason, person approving the removal and result. Retain the screen confirmation or SARS notification in the access register.
- Review remaining routes. Confirm whether any other active shared access, user rights, company authority, external portal access or email forwarding still needs separate action. Do not assume an eFiling revocation resolves them.
Documents and records to keep
- Engagement-end notice, departure instruction or security incident record.
- Entity and representative details, shared-access status and role history.
- Handover schedule listing open work, documents and deadlines.
- Revocation confirmation, notification evidence and post-removal review.
- Separate records of any access that must be dealt with in another system.
Do not include eFiling passwords, OTPs or security-contact credentials in the handover file. The incoming adviser can use their own approved access once it has been properly configured.
Important limits and exceptions
SARS says that records with revoked, rejected, cancelled or expired status cannot be acted on further by the registered representative. A new application is required to appoint a new trader representative. Plan the new appointment so that an essential Customs matter is not left without a controlled owner.
Cancellation and revocation are not the same status. SARS's guide describes cancellation for pending or approved requests, while the revoke workflow specifically changes approved shared access to revoked. Follow the status displayed rather than guessing which option is available.
If you cannot identify the registered representative, entity or access record, do not try a colleague's credentials. Resolve the governance issue using approved SARS support and internal authority. If there is evidence of compromise, preserve evidence and follow the organisation's incident process promptly.
When to get tailored advice
Seek tailored help where revocation could affect a live Customs application, an adviser disputes the access status, a record appears under the wrong entity, or a security incident may involve false filings or disclosure of taxpayer information. Obtain legal or professional advice for ending mandates or authorisations outside eFiling.