Starting your first job in South Africa brings new responsibilities, including understanding your tax number, payslip deductions and annual income tax return. SARS eFiling allows you to manage many tax tasks online without visiting a SARS branch.
The process can feel confusing if you have never dealt with personal income tax before. This guide explains how to register for SARS eFiling as a first-time employee, what documents you need, how to activate your tax profile and what to do if your details cannot be verified.
What is SARS eFiling?
SARS eFiling is the South African Revenue Service’s online platform for individuals, businesses and tax practitioners. As an employee, you may use it to:
- Register for personal income tax.
- View or confirm your income tax number.
- Submit an individual income tax return.
- Check tax return outcomes and notices.
- Request certain tax-related documents.
- Update selected personal and banking details.
- Review information submitted by your employer.
- Receive SARS correspondence electronically.
Your employer normally deducts Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) from your salary when applicable. However, having PAYE deducted does not automatically mean you already have an active eFiling profile.
Do you need a tax number before registering?
Not necessarily. You can create an eFiling profile even if you are unsure whether SARS has issued you an income tax number.
Your employer may have submitted your details to SARS for employee tax purposes. SARS may also register you automatically based on information received from an employer or another third party. For this reason, check whether you already have a tax number before attempting to create a new registration.
You can ask your employer’s payroll or human resources department whether your employee tax details were submitted correctly. Your tax number may also appear on SARS correspondence, an assessment or other official tax documents.
Important: Do not create multiple SARS profiles or apply for a second tax number if you already have one. Duplicate records can delay verification and tax return processing.
What documents and information do you need?
Prepare your information before beginning the online tax account registration process. You may not need to upload every document immediately, but accurate details help SARS verify your identity.
Have the following available:
- South African identity document or smart ID card.
- Valid passport and permit, if you are not a South African citizen.
- Active mobile phone number.
- Personal email address.
- Residential and postal address.
- Bank account details in your own name, if requested.
- Employer’s details.
- Employment start date.
- Latest payslip, if you have received one.
- IRP5 or IT3(a) certificate, once your employer issues it.
- Proof of address, where SARS requests it.
Your employer’s details may include the company’s name, PAYE reference number or contact information. If you are unsure about the PAYE reference number, ask payroll rather than guessing.
For a helpful explanation of salary deductions and tax information, read this guide on how to read a South African payslip.
How to register for SARS eFiling step by step
Step 1: Visit the official SARS eFiling website
Go directly to the official SARS eFiling website at www.sarsefiling.co.za.
Check the web address carefully before entering your ID number, banking information or password. Avoid registering through links sent by unknown people on WhatsApp, email or social media.
Select the option to Register or create a new eFiling profile. The wording and screen layout may change as SARS updates the platform, but the general process remains similar.
Step 2: Select the individual taxpayer option
When asked what type of taxpayer you are, select the option for an individual or personal taxpayer.
You are registering as yourself, not as:
- A company.
- A tax practitioner.
- An employer.
- A trust.
- Another person or organisation.
Read the terms and conditions, then continue if you accept them.
Step 3: Enter your personal details
Enter your details exactly as they appear on your identity document or passport. These may include:
- Full name and surname.
- South African ID number or passport number.
- Date of birth.
- Nationality.
- Mobile number.
- Email address.
- Physical address.
Small differences can cause taxpayer identity verification problems. For example, using a nickname instead of your legal first name may prevent the profile from matching SARS records.
Use an email address and mobile number that you can access immediately. SARS may send a one-time PIN (OTP) or confirmation message during registration.
Step 4: Confirm your contact details with an OTP
SARS may send an OTP to your registered mobile number or email address. Enter the OTP in the required field before it expires.
If you do not receive it:
- Check that your phone has signal.
- Confirm that you entered the correct number.
- Check your email spam or junk folder.
- Wait briefly before requesting another OTP.
- Avoid repeatedly requesting codes, as older OTPs may become invalid.
If your mobile number belongs to someone else or is no longer active, update it through an official SARS channel before continuing.
Step 5: Create your username and password
Choose a username that you can remember but that does not expose sensitive information. Create a strong password using a combination of:
- Uppercase letters.
- Lowercase letters.
- Numbers.
- Special characters.
Do not use your ID number, date of birth or easily guessed words. Never share your SARS login details with an employer, recruiter or another person claiming they need access to your account.
You may also need to choose security questions and answers. Store these details securely, preferably in a password manager or another private location.
Step 6: Confirm your eFiling registration
After completing the form, SARS may send a confirmation message or require you to follow additional verification steps.
Log in using your new credentials and check whether your profile displays your personal information correctly. Look for any notification stating that your registration is incomplete or that supporting documents are required.
Creating an eFiling login and registering for personal income tax are related but not always identical steps. If your profile does not show an income tax number or tax registration, you may need to complete the personal income tax registration process inside eFiling.
Step 7: Register or activate personal income tax
Once logged in, look for the relevant registration or tax type section. Select Personal Income Tax, also known as Individual Income Tax, if it is not already active on your profile.
SARS may ask you to confirm:
- Your identity details.
- Your address.
- Your employment information.
- Your banking details.
- Your employer’s information.
- Your contact details.
Submit the requested information and wait for SARS to process it. In some cases, the system may approve the registration immediately. In others, SARS may request supporting documents or a verification step.
Step 8: Check whether your tax number is available
After registration, check your profile, SARS correspondence or tax registration information for your income tax number.
Your tax number is a permanent identifier issued by SARS. Keep it private and use it when communicating with SARS, completing certain employment documents or dealing with tax-related matters.
If the number is not visible immediately, do not assume that registration failed. Allow time for processing and check your eFiling messages or notifications for further instructions.
What happens after you register?
Your first tax return may not be due immediately. SARS announces filing periods and requirements, so check the official SARS website during the relevant tax season.
When your return becomes available, SARS may pre-populate information such as:
- Employer income.
- PAYE deducted.
- Retirement fund contributions.
- Medical scheme information.
- Other third-party data.
Review every field carefully. Pre-populated information can still be incomplete or incorrect. Compare it with your IRP5, payslips and other supporting documents before submitting.
You can also use your eFiling profile to track notices and see whether SARS has requested additional information.
Common SARS eFiling registration problems
Your ID number cannot be verified
This may happen if your details on the SARS system do not match your identity document or information submitted by your employer.
Check the spelling of your name, ID number and date of birth. If everything is correct, contact SARS through an official channel for assistance.
SARS says you are already registered
This usually means SARS already has a tax record for you. Try the password recovery or username recovery options instead of creating another profile.
Your employer may also confirm whether your tax number was included in payroll records.
Your contact details are incorrect
If your old mobile number or email address is linked to your SARS profile, you may not receive an OTP. Use SARS’s official contact options or visit a branch if online correction is not possible.
Your employer’s information is missing
Ask your payroll department for the correct employer details. The information on your payslip and the information submitted to SARS should be consistent.
Do not invent a PAYE reference number or employer registration detail.
Your banking details cannot be accepted
SARS may require your account to be in your name and may conduct verification before accepting it. Ensure that the account number, branch details and account type are accurate.
Never provide banking details to an unofficial “agent” promising to complete your registration faster.
How to protect yourself from SARS-related scams
Tax season attracts scammers who impersonate SARS officials. They may claim that you have a refund waiting, an urgent penalty or a problem with your tax number.
Protect yourself by following these rules:
- Use the official SARS website rather than links in unexpected messages.
- Never share your eFiling password or OTP.
- Do not pay a person to “unlock” your SARS profile.
- Be cautious of refund messages requesting card or banking information.
- Verify suspicious communication through SARS’s official contact centre.
- Keep copies of submissions, notices and supporting documents.
If you have shared your ID or banking information with a suspicious person, follow these immediate recovery steps after sharing personal information with a recruitment scammer.
When should you contact SARS directly?
Contact SARS if you cannot complete registration after checking your information, or if your profile contains incorrect personal details.
You may need help when:
- Your identity cannot be verified.
- Your tax number is linked to another profile.
- Your name or ID details are incorrect.
- You cannot receive an OTP.
- Your income tax registration remains pending.
- SARS requests documents you do not understand.
- Your employer’s submitted information is wrong.
Use the official SARS contact centre, online services or a SARS branch. Keep your ID, payslip, employer details and any reference numbers available when requesting assistance.
Final checklist for first-time employees
Before you finish, confirm that you have:
- Created only one SARS eFiling profile.
- Used your legal identity details.
- Verified your mobile number and email address.
- Created a strong, private password.
- Checked whether you already have a tax number.
- Added or activated Personal Income Tax where required.
- Confirmed your employer information.
- Saved your registration confirmation.
- Kept your payslips and IRP5 safely.
- Checked SARS messages for additional requests.
Key takeaway: Registering for SARS eFiling as a first-time employee is manageable when you work carefully through each stage. Use accurate information, rely on official SARS channels and keep your tax documents organised from your first payslip onwards.