Guide to Services offered via the SARS MobiApp

Introduction

South African residents must pay tax on all income and profits earned, in accordance with the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962. This applies to individuals, companies, and trusts. SARS offers accessible services to help taxpayers meet this obligation. Through the SARS MobiApp, taxpayers can securely manage their tax affairs, submit their Income Tax Return (ITR12), view their tax information, and keep their details accurate and up to date.

To help taxpayers meet these obligations, the SARS MobiApp offers a range of convenient services, such as:

Tax Compliance Status Service.

View your tax compliance status.
Request a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN.

Profile Management Services.

View and update your SARS profile information.

Tax Directive Service.

Request historical IRP3(b) certificates.
Access historical IRP3(c) certificates.

Tax Reference Number Request Service.

Request your tax reference number.

Branch Office location and appointment services.

Locate the nearest SARS branch.
Book a virtual or in-person appointment with a SARS consultant.

Estate Case Service.

Report a new estate case to SARS.

After using certain services on the SARS MobiApp, a short feedback survey may appear. Taxpayers can complete the survey by selecting the response that best reflects their experience. This feedback helps SARS improve its digital services.

Requirements for using the SARS MobiApp

To use the SARS MobiApp effectively, ensure that the following requirements are met:

The SARS MobiApp is available only to individual taxpayers and registered tax practitioners.
- Registered tax practitioners who have linked their clients’ profiles can access those profiles.
You must be a registered SARS taxpayer who is required to submit an Income Tax Return (ITR12).
- For more information on registration, visit the SARS website: www. sars.gov.za.
You must be registered to use eFiling or the SARS MobiApp.
- For more information on MobiApp registration, refer to IT-AE-47-G01 – How to register for the use of the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

You must download the latest version of the SARS MobiApp to your smart device.
- Your device must use a supported iOS, Android, or Huawei operating system
Your device must have mobile data or access to a working Wi-Fi connection.
You must have a valid eFiling username and password to use the SARS MobiApp.

Downloading the SARS MobiApp

You can download the SARS MobiApp from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei AppGallery. To install the app, your device must run one of the following operating systems:

Android version 5.0 or later.
Huawei version 5.0 or later.
iOS version 10 or later.

To download the SARS MobiApp:

Open the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei AppGallery.
Search for “SARS MobiApp”.
Select the app from the search results and download it to your device.
- On the Apple App Store, the application may appear as “SARS Mobile eFiling (Beta)”.
Install the app.
Once installed, the SARS MobiApp icon will appear on your device’s home screen.

Tax Compliance Service (TCS)

The SARS MobiApp allows taxpayers to view their tax compliance profile and related statuses or request a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN. These services are available from the Home page (pre-login) or the Landing page (post login).

To access your TCS from the Home page.

Tap the Tax Compliance Status Icon.
You will be routed to the Welcome Page.

The Welcome Page, offers the following services:

My Compliance Profile.

Select this service to view your compliance profile and associated statuses

Tax Compliance Status Request.

Select this service to request a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) and access your PIN

To access your TCS from the Landing page (post – login).

Select My Compliance Profile.

Note the following:

To use this service, you must be activated for Tax Compliance Status (TCS) on eFiling.

If you are not activated for TCS, or you have not completed your TCS activation on eFiling, this service will not be available. The following error message will be displayed on your device.

To resolve this, log in to eFiling and select TCS on your profile. Then navigate as follows:

Tax Compliance Status
Activation

Follow the prompts on your screen to complete the activation process. For more information, refer to the SARS website: www.sars.gov.za

How to check your tax Compliance status

You can check your compliance profile from either the Home page (pre-login) or the Landing page (post-login).

To access your compliance profile from the Home page (pre-login):

Tap on the Tax Compliance Status icon.
- On the Welcome Page, select My Compliance Profile.
- You will be routed to login.
- Enter your username and password.
- Tap on Login
- Capture the OTP sent through.
- Tap on Submit

Once you have logged in successfully, the My Compliance Profile page will be displayed.

To access your compliance profile from the Landing Page (post – login):

Tap the My Compliance Profile icon,

Things to note when viewing your Tax Compliance Status (TCS).

The following compliance statuses can be viewed on the SARS MobiApp:

Registration.
Submission of Returns.
Debt.

The status is shown in red or green, with each colour indicating the following:

Green – The taxpayer is compliant.
Red – The taxpayer is non-compliant.

Tap the relevant tab to view your tax compliance status.

The Tax Compliance Status (TCS) service is linked to eFiling. This means that when a status is updated on eFiling, your compliance status is automatically updated across all channels.

How to Request Your Tax Compliance Status

To request your Tax Compliance Status (TCS) and obtain your TCS PIN for good standing:

On the Home page (pre-login).
- Tap on Tax Compliance Status icon.
On the Welcome Page,
- Tap on Tax Compliance Status Request

The request form will be displayed on your mobile device. Complete the required fields to request your TCS.

Complete all the fields on the form, then tap Generate Form. The form cannot be generated unless all mandatory fields are completed.

Once the form has been completed and your tax affairs are in order, an SMS or email containing your PIN will be sent to you.

To access the service from the Landing page (post-login):

On the Landing page.
- Tap on the Hamburger menu
Select Tax Compliance Status Request.

The request form will be displayed on your mobile device. Complete the required fields to request your TCS.

Complete the required fields to request your TCS as described on this section.
Once the form has been completed and your tax affairs are in order, an SMS or email containing your PIN will be sent to you.

Managing your Tax Compliance Requirements

How to register for personal income tax

To register for Personal Income Tax (PIT), first download the SARS MobiApp. Then refer to IT-AE-47-G01 – How to register for the use of the SARS MobiApp – External Guide for guidance on completing the registration process.

How to file your Income Tax Return

The SARS MobiApp can be used to submit your Income Tax Return. Taxpayers may either be auto assessed by SARS or required to submit a return.

For guidance on how to respond to an auto assessment or to submit your income tax return, refer to IT-AE-46-G01 – How to submit your Individual Income Tax Return via the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

If you filed your return or accepted the auto assessment, the Work page in the MobiApp will display the eFiling status as “Assessment Received.”

How to check if you have been selected for Auto Assessment

Auto Assessment is a process in which SARS pre-populates your Income Tax Return (ITR12) with your latest third-party data and issues an estimated assessment on your behalf. If you agree with the outcome, the assessment is regarded as final and you do not need to submit a Personal Income Tax Return (ITR12).

To determine whether you have been selected for Auto Assessment, and to understand how to respond, refer to the following guide available on the SARS website.

IT-AE-46-G01 – How to submit your Individual Income Tax return via the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

How to view your Tax Assessment

To view your tax assessment (Notice of Assessment (ITA34)), follow these steps:

On the Home page (pre-login).
- Tap on ITA34 Notice of assessment icon.

- Login and select the tax year for which you want to view the assessment details.
- Tap on Original Assessment.
- Your Notice of Assessment will be displayed.

How to check your Income Tax Return Status

The Tax Return Status Dashboard allows taxpayers to view the progress and status of a submitted Income Tax Return. It provides a visual overview of the return process, including submission, verification or audit, and refund processing.

To access the Tax Return Status Dashboard, refer to the following guide available on the SARS website. IT-AE-46-G01 – How to submit your Individual Income Tax return via the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

How to pay your tax debt

The SARS MobiApp can be used to make payments towards Personal Income Tax and related penalties. Taxpayers can also request payment arrangements for outstanding debt through the SARS MobiApp.

For guidance on making payments via the MobiApp, refer to:

IT-AE-48-G01 – How to make payments to SARS via the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

For guidance on arranging payment for outstanding debt, refer to:

GEN-DC-20-G04 – Deferral of Payment Arrangements on SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

How to submit a payment allocation query

You can submit a payment allocation query before or after logging in. To access this service, follow these steps:

On the Home Page (Pre-login),
- Tap the Submit Payment Allocation icon.
On the Landing page (Post login),
- Tap the hamburger menu, then select Submit Payment Allocation.

The SARS Online Query System (SOQS) form will be displayed. Refer to the SARS website www.sars.gov.za for more information on the SOQS

Complete the mandatory fields and upload the required supporting document(s). Ensure that your documents comply with the limits prescribed by SARS.

Once the documents have been submitted successfully, the taxpayer will receive a notification through their preferred communication channel.

How to submit supporting documentation

SARS may request supporting documents to finalise an audit query or for compliance purposes. You can upload and submit these documents through the pre-login or post-login services. To do so, follow these steps:

On the Home page (pre-login)
- Tap Submit Supporting Documents.
On the Landing page (post-login)
- Login
- Tap the hamburger menu, then select Submit Supporting Documents

The SARS Online Query System (SOQS) form will be displayed on your device.
- Complete the form.

For more information on the SOQS and how to complete the form, visit the SARS website;www. sars.gov.za

Note the following when uploading documents:

Each document must not exceed 5 MB. If a document is larger than 5 MB, a warning message will be displayed.
Accepted file formats are PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, and PNG.
Documents must not be blank, password-protected, or encrypted.
A maximum of 10 documents may be uploaded per submission.
Document names must not include the characters ‘ or &.
No more than 10 submissions are allowed per case number.

Once the documents have been attached successfully, a confirmation message will be displayed on your device.

Managing your Profile

How to update your Profile Information

Taxpayers and tax practitioners can use the SARS MobiApp to view or update the following profile details:

Marital Status.
Email address (if different from the security details).
Contact Number (if different from the security details).
Security details (Cellphone and email).
Postal Address.
Residential address.
Bank details.
- Account holder.
- Account number.
- Branch code.
- Account type.

This service is available through the MobiApp pre-login and post-login options. To access it, follow these steps:

On the Home page (pre-login).
- Tap the Maintain Registered Details icon.
- Login.

To update your profile information after logging in (post-login).
- On the Landing page
  - Tap Profile Management.

Your personal information will be displayed.
To update your profile, tap the information you want to change.

If you select Personal Info, the personal details listed above will be displayed
- Select the personal information you want to update.
  - Enter the new information in the relevant field.
- To save the changes.
  - Tap Update.

Tap on BankingDetails to view and update your banking information.
- Select the banking details you want to update.
  - Enter the new information in the relevant field.
- To save the changes.
  - Tap Add Banking Details.

To update your security contact details, scroll down and tap Go to Contact Details.

Note:

The SARS MobiApp supports Personal Income Tax (PIT) only.
When updating banking or security contact details, you will be prompted to complete an OTP for authentication.
Tax practitioners can update their clients’ profile information through the client profile in the portfolio management service. However, they cannot update their clients’ security details.

Note: If both security details (cell number and email address) need to be updated, use the eFiling pre-login service.

How to resolve an error notification

When updating security details, such as your cell number or email address, make sure the information you enter is correct.
If SARS detects that the information entered is incorrect or already linked to an eFiling account, one of the following messages will appear on your device:

Read the message, then tap OK.

Then enter the correct contact details.

If you are unable to update the security contact details after several attempts, book an appointment to visit a SARS branch.

How to verify your contact details

To keep your contact information accurate, SARS may send you an email or SMS asking you to confirm your details. You may need to verify or update your mobile number and/or email address on the Update Contact Details dashboard in the SARS MobiApp. This section explains how to do this.

To confirm your contact details, follow these steps:

Log in to the SARS MobiApp.
Enter the OTP.

On the Update Contact Details screen, your Security Contact Details will be displayed. Confirm the following:

Your selected Preferred Method of Communication.
Check that your preferred contact details (cell number or email address) are correct. Update it if necessary.
Tap CONFIRM.

The status will update to Pending.

Note the following about the statuses displayed:

Invalid – The email address or cell number entered is invalid. Correct it, then tap UPDATE PREFERRED.
Unconfirmed – The email address or cell number entered has not yet been confirmed. Enter the correct detail, then tap CONFIRM.
Confirmed – The information has been confirmed. Tap UPDATE & SAVE.
Pending – SARS is validating your updated contact details. Once the verification is complete, the status will change to Confirmed.

Scroll to the Two Factor Authentication section.

Two Factor Authentication should be enabled and set to One Time Pin.
- If One Time Pin is not selected, tap the relevant radio button to select it.
  - Select One Time Pin by tapping on the applicable radio button.

For help setting up Two-Factor Authentication, refer to the following guide on the SARS website:

IT-AE-47-G01 – How to register for the use of the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

Tap UPDATE & SAVE.
Tap CONTINUE TO eFILING.

You will be redirected to the SARS MobiApp Landing screen.

If your contact details have not yet been confirmed, the Update Contact Details dashboard will appear in red.

To confirm your details, do the following:

Tap Update Contact Details.
Tap + Entity Contact Details.
- Check that your cell number and email address are correct.
- Update any incorrect information.
Tap CONFIRM.
Tap UPDATE.

The Update Contact Details screen will display your Entity Contact Details and Security Contact Details.

Check that the displayed contact details have been confirmed.

Check whether the status is Confirmed or Unconfirmed.

If the status is Unconfirmed, update the details and tap Confirm.

Enter the OTP.

After you enter the correct OTP, the status will change to Pending. SARS will verify the details and update the status to Confirmed once verification is complete.

Do note that once the contact details have been confirmed, the Update Contact Details dashboard will no longer be displayed as RED, and the status will be updated to GREEN.

How tax practitioners can access clients’ portfolios

If you are a registered tax practitioner, the My Portfolios tab will appear on the Landing page after you log in to the SARS MobiApp. This tab gives you access to your clients’ portfolios that are linked to your eFiling profile.

For more information on using the MobiApp to access client portfolios, refer to IT-AE-52-G01 – Tax Practitioner Guide on the use of the SARS MobiApp – External Guide.

Things tax practitioners should note when using the SARS MobiApp:

·Tax practitioners must link their clients through eFiling to access their profiles in the SARS MobiApp.
The SARS MobiApp supports Personal Income Tax (PIT) only. To access other tax types or update your portfolio, use eFiling. The portfolios shown in the MobiApp are the same as those linked to your eFiling profile. For guidance on creating a portfolio in eFiling, refer to the registration external guide on the SARS website.
Tax practitioners with shared users who have view-only access cannot use the MobiApp to submit returns for their clients.

How to update your Registered Tax Representative

To update your registered representative, follow these steps:

To access the service before logging in (pre-login):

On the Home page, tap Request a Representative.

To access the service after logging in:

On the Landing page, tap the hamburger menu.
Select Request a Representative.

The SARS Online Query System (SOQS) form will be displayed. Refer to the SARS website www.sars.gov.za for more information on this form.

Complete all mandatory fields on the form.

Enter all details for the entity and the registered representative.

Once all the information has been submitted, a notification will be sent to the taxpayer via their preferred method of communication:

SARS Branch Locator and Appointment Service

How to find a SARS Branch near you

To find a SARS branch near you, follow these steps:

On the Home Page, tap Branch Services.

Two service icons will be displayed.

Find Branch – Opens the SARS Branch Locator to show the branch nearest to you in Google Maps and list other nearby SARS branches.

Branch Booking – Opens a form for booking an appointment with SARS.

The icons below the Branch Locator page provide the following services:

If you select Contact Us or SARS Lwazi AI Assistant, the following screens will be displayed.

How to book a virtual or Branch appointment

Taxpayers and tax representatives can book an eBooking appointment through the SARS MobiApp to resolve tax queries with SARS.

To book an eBooking appointment, tap Branch Booking on the pre-login screen.

If you are logged in, tap the menu bar and select Branch eBooking.

The Branch eBooking form will be displayed.

Complete the form with the required details.

For information on the requirements of the form, refer to this guide:

GEN-BO-09-G01 – Book an appointment at a SARS branch – External Guide

Once completed, you will receive an email with the status of your eBooking. Depending on your query, you may also need to submit supporting documents before your appointment.

Tax Reference Number Service

How to request your Tax Reference Number

You can access your tax reference number through documents available in the SARS MobiApp, such as the Notice of Registration and Statement of Account. The app also allows you to request your tax reference number directly.

To access the service, follow these steps:

- Tap the hamburger menu and select the Request Your Tax Number icon.

Complete the required fields on the form and tap on SUBMIT

Your tax reference number will be sent to your preferred contact method once the information provided has been correctly captured and successfully validated.

How to Request Your Notice of Registration

To view your notice of registration, proceed as follows:

On the Home Page

Tap the Notice of Registration icon.
- On the Login Page, enter your password and tap Login. Proceed to enter the OTP.

- After the OTP has been entered correctly, the Notice of Registration will be displayed.

If you are already logged in, follow these steps on the Landing Page:

Tap on My Services.
The My Services page will open.

Tap Notice of Registration.

The Notice of Registration will be displayed

Note that your Tax Reference Number (TRN) will also appear on the Notice of Registration.

Tax Directive Service

How to request historic IRP3B and IRP3C certificates

On the Landing page, tap My Services, then select Request Historic Directives from the menu.

On the Request Historic Directives page, select the applicable Tax period.

Once completed tap on SUBMIT.

Note that SARS will then verify whether you do have an active Tax Directive for your eFiling profile.

Where there is no Tax Directive active on your eFiling profile, an error message will be displayed.

To use this service, the following conditions must be met:

The user requesting the Tax Directive must be registered for eFiling and have an active profile.
The latest version of the SARS MobiApp must be installed to request a Tax Directive.
The taxpayer profile for which the Tax Directive is requested must have an active Personal Income Tax account.
Tax practitioners must be registered for eFiling and have an active account.

How to use the Two-Pot Retirement system tax calculator

If you plan to withdraw from the Two-Pot Retirement System, you can use the tax calculator to estimate your potential payout.

Note the following when using this service:

The taxpayer profile used for this request must have an active Personal Income Tax reference number.
Enter accurate information in the Two-Pot Retirement System calculator to get a reliable payout estimate.

To estimate your possible Two-Pot Retirement payout, follow these steps:

Tap the Two-Pot Calc icon on your device.

Tap the Two-Pot Calc icon on your device

This will open the Two-Pot Retirement form for you to complete.

Once the Two-Pot Retirement form is displayed, complete the following steps:

Step 1:

Enter the required details on the form:

Name and Surname
ID Number
Tax Reference Number

Tap NEXT

Step 2:

Select your preferred verification method.

Step 3:

Enter the OTP sent to your selected verification method.
Tap SUBMIT.

Step 4:

View your results.
Your results will be displayed on your device

Reporting a new estate case

To report a new estate case, tap the Estates Case icon on the Home Page and login.

The SARS Online Query System (SOQS) form will be displayed.

Complete the mandatory fields on the form

To access the service after logging in:

On the Landing page

Tap the hamburger menu, then select Estate Case.

Note that when reporting a new estate case, you must submit supporting documents. Visit SARS website www.sars.gov.za for the list of required documents.

Once you have gathered them, complete the mandatory fields on the SOQS form, upload the documents, and submit the form.

Declaring your Traveller Information

To declare your travel information in the Traveller Management System, follow these steps:

On the Home page (pre-login).

Tap on Traveler Declaration icon.
The Traveller Management System will be open.
Complete the form fields and submit the form.

SARS Support Services

The SARS MobiApp gives users quick and easy access to SARS support services through a range of digital channels, including voice services, social media, videos, guides, and AI.

To access these services, on the SARS MobiApp Home page.

The following services will be displayed:

Tap on Need Help

The following services will be displayed.

Ask the AI Assistant – Opens the AI Assistant.
eLearning – Opens SARS learning guides and videos
Contact Us – Displays SARS contact details.
Social media – Opens the SARS social media platforms.

Online Learning Resources

When you select eLearning, you can access SARS videos and guides. These resources provide information on tax-related topics, such as how to submit your income tax return.

To choose a resource

Tap Videos or Guides.

Ask a Question

The ‘Ask a Question icon will route you to Lwazi AI assistant. The Lwazi AI allows you to ask any tax related question by texting it and a response will be generated.

Do note that the chat with the SARS Lwazi AIt must be initiated using the English native language and must be related to the tax products offered by SARS.

Contact SARS

This service displays the SARS website and contact details for assistance from SARS service consultants.

Tap Contact Us.

The screen will display SARS contact numbers for local and international callers, as well as the SARS website.

To make a call, tap SARS Contact Centre or International Callers, then tap the displayed number to dial SARS. To access the SARS website, tap SARS Website.

SARS Social Media Channels

To access SARS via social media, follow these steps:

Tap the Social Media icon.
Select the social media platform you want to use.

Note: Twitter will route you to “X”.

If you select X, Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn, the relevant SARS social media page will open.

Navigate and make comments where applicable.

Definitions, acronyms and abbreviations

The definitions, acronyms and abbreviations can be accessed here – Glossary webpage

Legal disclaimer: In the event of conflict or inconsistency between this webpage and the PDF version of the guide, the latter shall prevail.

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