Tax and SARS knowledge base
How do I track a SARS tax compliance status request?
How do I track a SARS tax compliance status request?
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Direct answer
You can track a submitted SARS Tax Compliance Status request in eFiling through Tax Compliance Status and My Account Enquiries. SARS says that this area displays completed requests as well as requests still in progress. Opening the relevant enquiry can show the case status, case number, type and requested date. It can also provide notifications, outcome letters and, where SARS asks for them, a route to submit supporting documents.
Use the correct taxpayer profile before you start. If you are a tax practitioner or organisation user, choosing the wrong taxpayer is an easy way to conclude that a request is missing when it is simply attached to another profile.
What this means in practice
Tracking is useful because a TCS request is not the same thing as an approved PIN. A case may be requested, created, in progress or completed. SARS describes these status labels in its guide, with a completed case indicating that an outcome letter has been received. Do not treat the submission confirmation as proof that a Good Standing result or a PIN has been issued.
Before you contact SARS, collect the request reference and look at the current status. This makes it easier to explain what you have done and prevents duplicate requests. A duplicate request may not speed up a pending case, and a new request can make your own records harder to reconcile.
The guide also links the compliance process to the taxpayer's registered profile and tax products. If the request is delayed because information is incomplete or because SARS asks for documents, resolving the specific issue is usually more useful than repeatedly refreshing the dashboard.
Step-by-step
- Sign in to the right eFiling portfolio.
Select the individual, company, trust or other taxpayer for which the request was made. Confirm the tax reference number shown on screen against your records.
- Open the Tax Compliance Status area.
SARS's guide refers to the Tax Compliance Status menu. From there, choose My Account Enquiries to review the requests that have been submitted.
- Find the relevant case.
Compare the request type, case number and requested date with your records. SARS describes status indicators including case requested, case created, case in progress and case completed. Record the exact wording rather than relying on memory.
- Open the request details.
Use the View or Open link shown for the case. Review messages, notifications and any letters attached to the work page. A letter can explain an outcome or an additional action that is required.
- Respond only to an actual SARS request.
If the work page asks for supporting documents, prepare clear copies of the documents that relate to that request and keep proof of submission. Do not upload unrelated documents simply to make the case look more complete.
- Check the compliance profile separately.
If the dashboard identifies outstanding registration, return or debt issues, review the underlying period and tax type. A request tracker is not a substitute for resolving a genuine non-compliance item.
Documents and records to keep
- The TCS request reference and case number.
- A saved view of the current status and the requested date.
- Any SARS letter or notification connected to the case.
- Copies and acknowledgements for documents submitted through the work page.
- Notes of the taxpayer profile and tax reference number used.
Important limits and exceptions
SARS does not publish a universal turnaround time in the guide for every Tax Compliance Status request. The time required can depend on the request type, supporting information, tax profile and any compliance issue. Avoid relying on a verbal promise or a tender deadline as proof that SARS will finalise a request by a particular date.
SARS says the TCS functionality provides Good Standing and Approval International Transfer requests, with different eligibility and document requirements. Historic application types can still appear in the dashboard. Make sure you track the actual request type rather than assuming every entry is current or interchangeable.
If SARS reflects a non-compliant status you believe is wrong, its guide describes a Challenge Status process for situations where you cannot remedy the issue yourself. That is different from merely tracking a submitted request, and it requires careful review of the underlying status.
When to get tailored advice
Seek help where a case involves multiple tax products, entity merging, a compliance-status challenge, an international-transfer application or documents that need legal or accounting interpretation. TaxProof can help reconcile the case record with your underlying SARS profile, but SARS determines the request outcome.