Quick Answer

To register for tax with SARS: create an eFiling profile, complete the individual registration with your SA ID or passport, proof of residential address and bank account details. SARS issues your income tax reference number, usually within a few business days. You must register if you earn above the tax threshold or earn any income outside formal employment.

Who Must Register

• Anyone earning employment income above the annual tax threshold (most first-jobbers are auto-registered by their employer via ITREG – check first with how to get your tax number)
• Freelancers, contractors and side-hustlers earning any income outside a salary
• Landlords with rental income
• South Africans earning foreign income

Step-by-Step Registration on eFiling

Step 1: Create your eFiling profile

Go to secure.sarsefiling.co.za and register with your ID number, names, email and cellphone. Full walkthrough: how to register for SARS eFiling.

Step 2: Complete the tax registration

On your profile, choose the option to register for Personal Income Tax. SARS pulls your data from Home Affairs to verify your ID.

Step 3: Upload supporting documents

• Certified copy of your ID or passport
• Proof of residential address (utility bill or lease, under 3 months old)
• Bank confirmation letter or stamped statement (under 3 months old)

Step 4: Receive your tax number

SARS issues your income tax reference number – typically within a few business days, sometimes same-day. It appears on your eFiling profile and on the Notice of Registration (IT150).

After Registration: Your First Return

Once registered, work through the first-time tax filer checklist, gather documents with the individual checklist, and file by the deadline on the SARS filing season page. Freelancers and side-hustlers: you will likely need to register as a provisional taxpayer too – see provisional tax assistance.

Common Registration Problems

• ID verification fails – your details at Home Affairs and the bank do not match; update your details at the bank first.
• Already registered – an employer registered you years ago; retrieve the number instead of re-registering.
• Address outside South Africa – non-residents register through a different flow; get help before SARS flags the profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles

• How to Get Your Tax Number – retrieve or confirm your number
• Register for SARS eFiling – the online profile setup
• First-Time Tax Filer Checklist – your first return, sorted
• Do I Need to File a Tax Return? – the threshold rules

Need Help?

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [ { “@type”: “WebPage”, “@id”: “https://taxseason2026.online/how-to-register-for-tax-sars#webpage”, “url”: “https://taxseason2026.online/how-to-register-for-tax-sars”, “name”: “How to Register for Tax with SARS: First-Timer’s Guide 2026”, “inLanguage”: “en-ZA”, “datePublished”: “2026-09-03”, “dateModified”: “2026-09-03” }, { “@type”: “Article”, “headline”: “How to Register for Tax with SARS: First-Timer’s Guide 2026”, “inLanguage”: “en-ZA”, “author”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Admin Boss – Tax division”, “url”: “https://www.adminboss.co.za/” }, “publisher”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “TaxSeason2026.online” }, “datePublished”: “2026-09-03”, “dateModified”: “2026-09-03” }, { “@type”: “BreadcrumbList”, “itemListElement”: [ { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 1, “name”: “Home”, “item”: “https://taxseason2026.online” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 2, “name”: “How to Register for Tax with SARS: First-Timer’s Guide 2026”, “item”: “https://taxseason2026.online/how-to-register-for-tax-sars” } ] }, { “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How long does SARS tax registration take?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Online registration typically produces your tax number within a few business days once documents are accepted. Branch registrations (by appointment) can issue it the same day.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Do I need to register for tax if I earn under the threshold?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “If your only income is a salary under the annual tax threshold, registration is not compulsory – but registering is smart: it builds your SARS record and you will need it the moment you earn extra income, buy property or need a tax clearance.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I register for tax without a South African bank account?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “You can register, but SARS cannot pay refunds without a verified South African bank account in your name. Open an account before your first filing season.” } } ] } ] }