Compliance review
We check your SARS profile across income tax, VAT and PAYE to see where you stand.
SARS tax clearance
Get your Tax Clearance Certificate (Tax Compliance Status PIN).
Tenders, contracts and funders all ask for proof that your company is tax compliant. Smartbook gets your SARS Tax Compliance Status right and issues the PIN that shows you're in the clear.
What you get
- SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN issued
- Compliance checked across all tax types
- Non-compliance flagged and helped resolved
- Ready for tenders, contracts and funders
From
R450
Turnaround
10 days
For
South African companies needing proof of tax compliance
The old paper Tax Clearance Certificate is gone. SARS now issues a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) with a PIN that anyone — a tender board, a client, a funder — can use to verify your compliance in real time. To get a 'compliant' status, your registrations, returns and payments across income tax, VAT and PAYE all have to be in order.
That's where it trips businesses up: one unfiled return or a small outstanding balance turns your status non-compliant, and the tender is lost. Smartbook checks your full SARS profile, resolves what's holding you back, and issues the PIN so you can prove you're compliant the moment you need to.
When you need this
You'll need a Tax Compliance Status PIN when you:
- Bid for a government or corporate tender
- Sign a contract that requires proof of tax compliance
- Apply for business finance or funding
- Need a Good Standing or Foreign Investment status from SARS
- Want to confirm your own company is fully tax compliant
What's included
Issue resolution
We identify and help resolve outstanding returns or balances blocking your compliance.
TCS PIN
We obtain your Tax Compliance Status PIN so third parties can verify you in real time.
Status confirmation
We confirm your status is 'compliant' and explain what the PIN covers.
Right category
We request the correct type — Good Standing, Tender or Foreign Investment — for your need.
Ongoing support
We can keep your compliance clean so your status stays green whenever you need it.
How it works
Send us your details
Share your company and SARS details so we can access your compliance profile.
We check and fix
We review your status, resolve anything outstanding and request the TCS PIN.
You get your PIN
We deliver your Tax Compliance Status PIN, ready to share with tenders or funders.
What we need from you
- Company registration and SARS tax reference number
- SARS eFiling access or authority to act on your behalf
- Details of the type of clearance you need (tender, good standing, etc.)
- Information on any known outstanding returns or balances
Common questions
Is a Tax Clearance Certificate the same as the TCS PIN?
They're the same idea. SARS replaced the printed Tax Clearance Certificate with an electronic Tax Compliance Status and a PIN. The PIN lets a third party verify your compliance live on SARS eFiling, which is more secure than a paper certificate.
How long does it take?
Around 10 working days, but if your profile is already compliant it can be quicker. Most of the time goes into resolving anything that's making the status non-compliant.
Why is my status showing non-compliant?
Usually an unfiled return, an outstanding balance, or a registration that's not active. We diagnose the exact cause and help resolve it so your status flips to compliant.
What types of tax clearance are there?
The common ones are Good Standing (general compliance), Tender (for bidding), and Foreign Investment Allowance (for moving funds abroad). We request the right one for your situation.
How long is the PIN valid?
The PIN gives a live view of your status, so it reflects your compliance at the moment it's checked. If you fall out of compliance, the status changes — which is why keeping returns and payments up to date matters.
Can you keep me compliant year-round?
Yes. Our monthly accounting and compliance plans keep your returns and payments current so your Tax Compliance Status stays green whenever a tender or client asks.
Related services
Last reviewed: June 2026. Smartbook keeps this page current with CIPC and SARS rules.
Ready to get this sorted?
Tell us about your company and we'll send a free compliance check.
Get my tax clearance