Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN: What It Is and How to Get One
Almost every tender and supplier registration in South Africa asks for proof that you are tax compliant. These days that proof is the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN issued by SARS, which replaced the old paper tax clearance certificate for most purposes.
What the PIN does
The TCS PIN lets a third party — a government department, a corporate buyer — verify your tax compliance status directly with SARS online. You don't send the buyer a certificate; you give them a PIN and they check it themselves.
That means the buyer sees your current status. If you fall out of compliance after you got the PIN, they will see that too.
Who needs one
- Any business bidding for government work
- Businesses registering on the Central Supplier Database (CSD checklist)
- Corporate buyers who require proof of compliance from suppliers
- Businesses applying for certain licences or funding
How to get a TCS PIN (overview)
- Be registered for eFiling. You will need your SARS eFiling profile for the business (and the representative's authority to act for it).
- On eFiling, go to the Tax Status / Tax Compliance Status area and request a compliance status. SARS no longer offers a separate Tender option — the Good Standing request is the one to use for tenders and supplier registration.
- Submit the request. SARS checks that your returns have been filed and your tax debt is paid or under arrangement.
- If compliant, you receive a PIN. You can usually view the status and PIN on eFiling and share the PIN with the buyer.
Screen names change from time to time, so follow the prompts on SARS eFiling and the SARS website if they differ from the above.
Why a request can fail
Compliance usually means:
- All required returns are filed (income tax, VAT, PAYE/EMP201 as applicable)
- Any outstanding tax debt is paid or covered by a payment arrangement
- Your registered details with SARS are correct and current
The commonest causes of a non-compliant status for small businesses:
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| An old, unfiled return | File it — even a nil return where nothing was earned |
| EMP201 (monthly employer return) not submitted | Submit and pay |
| Penalties or unpaid assessments | Pay or arrange an instalment agreement |
| Wrong contact or banking details | Update through eFiling |
A tax practitioner or accountant can sort this out quickly if the history is messy.
Habits that avoid last-minute panic
- Check your status monthly, not when a tender is advertised.
- Put filing deadlines in your calendar.
- Keep your PIN and a screenshot of the status in your tender pack.
- If you change accountants or directors, confirm that SARS has the right representative on record.
A TCS PIN is one document among many
A valid PIN alone doesn't make a bid complete. Buyers also check CIPC details, B-BBEE documents, bank confirmation and references. A short readiness check shows which of them is your weakest.
Run the free tender readiness check →
General information, not tax advice. Rules and screens change — consult SARS guidance or a tax practitioner.