How to Get a Tax Compliance PIN from SARS for Tenders

Every South African government bid checks your tax status. A valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN lets the buyer verify you in real time. No valid PIN is an automatic disqualification, so this is one document you fix before you bid, not during.

What you need first

• An active SARS eFiling profile for the business
• Your tax reference numbers registered (Income Tax, and VAT / PAYE if applicable)
• No outstanding returns or debt, or an arranged payment plan

Get your Tax Compliance PIN, step by step

• Log in to SARS eFiling and open the Tax Compliance Status menu
• Activate Tax Compliance Status if you have not already (a once-off step)
• Under Tax Compliance Status Request, select the type Good Standing
• Submit the request; if you are compliant, SARS issues a TCS PIN immediately
• Share the PIN (and your tax reference number) on the bid, or print the TCS letter

If your status shows non-compliant

eFiling shows exactly why: outstanding returns, outstanding debt, or unregistered for a required tax type. File the missing returns, settle or arrange the debt, and the status flips to compliant, usually within a day or two. Then request the PIN again.