Tax Practitioner Registration Process

The registration process at a glance

To be recognised as a Tax Practitioner by SARS, you must:

Be registered with an approved Recognised Controlling Body (RCB), and
Complete Tax Practitioner registration on SARS eFiling.

Tax Practitioner registration on SARS eFiling has three steps:

Step 1: The RCB initiates registration on SARS eFiling.

Step 2: The Tax Practitioner member captures or updates their details in the RAV01.

Step 3: The Tax Practitioner member selects an RCB and submits an application for registration with SARS on eFiling.

After you complete the steps:

SARS performs verifications.
SARS issues a registration outcome:
- Approved.
- Request for supporting documents.
- Pending review.
- Rejected.

If SARS approves your registration, SARS issues a Tax Practitioner Number (PR number).

After SARS issues the PR number, the Tax Practitioner activates Tax Practitioner status on eFiling.

List of approved Recognised Controlling Bodies

Before you start

Before you start registration, make sure that:

You are registered with an approved Recognised Controlling Body (RCB).
Your RCB has initiated your registration on eFiling.
You have an active SARS eFiling profile and can log in successfully.

For guidance on registering for eFiling, refer to:

GEN-ELEC-18-G01 – How to Register for eFiling and Manage Your User Profile – External Guide.

How to register as a Tax Practitioner on eFiling

Step 1: The Recognised Controlling Body (RCB) Initiates The Tax Practitioner Registration

The RCB initiates the Tax Practitioner’s registration on SARS eFiling. The Tax Practitioner member cannot continue until the RCB completes this step.

Your RCB initiates the Tax Practitioner’s registration on SARS eFiling.
After this step please login to your eFiling profile to complete the registration.

For information on processes followed by the RCB, refer to: GEN-GEN-58-G01 – How RCBs can Manage Tax Practitioner Members on eFiling – External Guide

Responsibilities of RCBs

Initiate the Tax Practitioner’s registration on eFiling.
Make sure the Tax Practitioner member’s details are accurate.
Tell the Tax Practitioner member to complete the application with SARS.
Maintain member records and statuses.
Reinitiate registration when required (for example, after deactivation or change of RCB).

Step 2: Tax Practitioner Member Captures/Updates Details On The RAV01

Check your details on the Registration Amendments and Verification form (RAV01). If you notice anything that is incorrect update your details.

On the Landing page, navigate to the RAV01 form.
- Select SARS Registered Details.
- Select Maintain SARS Registered Details.

Select I Agree and continue.

On the RAV01 select Edit.

Capture/update your information on RAV01.
After you updated your information, proceed to step 3.

Step 3: Tax Practitioner Member Submits Registration Application

Select your RCB and submit the RAV01 form to complete your application for registration.

On My Menu:
- Select My Tax Practitioner Details.
- Select your Recognised Controlling Body (RCB) from the Controlling Body dropdown list.

Select Done to close the Tax Practitioner Details

Select Submit form.

Select Continue.

What Happens After You Submit

After you submit, SARS performs the verifications and decides the outcome of the registration request. Your registration status will show on the Registration Work Page and SARS will notify you through eFiling correspondence.

Registration Outcomes

The table below explains the different statuses what they mean, and what you must do next.

You may use SOQS to submit supporting documents upon request.

Important to note: Always reference your case number.

Obtain Your Tax Practitioner Number (PR number)

If SARS approves your registration, SARS issues a Tax Practitioner Number (PR number), which can be located:

On your Tax Practitioner registration details on eFiling.
On the RAV01 form under Registration No.
In SARS correspondence or notices.
On the Registration Work Page, where applicable, which may also show the status and a case reference number if SARS needs manual review.

Take note: Keep your PR number safe, you will use it when you engage with SARS.

To access your PR number on the RAV01 form:

Select SARS Registered Details.
Select Maintain SARS Registered Details.
Select the hyperlink of the Legal Entity Name.

Go to My Menu.

Select the Tax Practitioner Details on the RAV01.
Find your PR number in the Registration No field.

Activate Your Tax Practitioner Status

After SARS issues your PR number, you must activate your Tax Practitioner status on eFiling.

On the Portfolio Management screen select your Tax Practitioner Portfolio. (Refer to Create a Tax Practitioner Portfolio on eFiling.)

Activate your Tax Practitioner status as follows:

Select Services from the main menu.
Select My TP Configuration.
Select Practitioner Activation.
The Activate Tax Practitioner page will show.
Enter your Tax Practitioner Number (PR number).
Select Confirm My Practitioner Status.

Read the message and if you agree:
- Select I Agree and Continue.

Confirmation message will be displayed.

Once activation is successful, SARS recognises you as a registered Tax Practitioner.

Tax Practitioner Responsibilities

Keep an active eFiling profile and complete registration after your RCB initiates it.
Submit supporting documents when SARS requests them, within the period stated in your correspondence.
Monitor eFiling correspondence and notices for the registration outcome.
If SARS approves your registration, obtain and keep your PR number, then activate your Tax Practitioner status.
If you stop practicing, deactivate your Tax Practitioner status.

How to manage your Tax Practitioner portfolio on eFiling

Create a Tax Practitioner Portfolio on eFiling

You must have a Tax Practitioner portfolio on eFiling to manage client tax matters.

Please note the following advantages of establishing a Tax Practitioner portfolio within your eFiling profile:

Maintain a dedicated business portfolio (Tax Practitioner Portfolio).
View all clients and their tax administrations in one place.
Delegate user authority for tax administration.

To add a Tax Practitioner portfolio:

Log in to eFiling.
Select My Profile.
Select Portfolio Management.

Select Add Portfolio.
A pop-up Add Portfolio screen will appear.

On the Add Portfolio screen:

Enter the name you wish to name your Tax Practitioner portfolio.
Select Tax Practitioner from the drop-down list.
Select Add Portfolio to proceed.

After you selected Add Portfolio, a pop-up message will appear.

Your new Tax Practitioner portfolio will show. To open it, select Go to Portfolio.

Please refer to the following video for more information: How to add a Tax Practitioner portfolio to your eFiling profile.

Tax Practitioners who are deactivated or changing an RCB

If you were registered as a Tax Practitioner and later deactivated, the RCB must initiate registration again and you must complete registration again on eFiling.
If you change from one RCB to another, the new RCB initiates the Tax Practitioner registration process on eFiling.

Deactivate Tax Practitioner Status

If you stop practicing, you can deactivate your Tax Practitioner status on eFiling.

If you choose to deregister formally, follow these steps:

Tell your relevant Recognised Controlling Body (RCB) that you intend to deregister.
After you receive confirmation, tell your clients to remove you as their Tax Practitioner from their eFiling profiles.
After your clients remove you, remove them from your Tax Practitioner portfolio.
Deactivate your Tax Practitioner status on eFiling, as described above.

For information on how clients can remove a Tax Practitioner, and how a Tax Practitioner can remove clients from their portfolio, refer to How to add users to your Tax Practitioner portfolio on eFiling.

Deactivate Tax Practitioner Status:

Navigate to the RAV01:
- Select Services on the main menu
- Select SARS Registered Details.
- Select Maintain SARS Registered Details.
- Select Edit.
- Select My Practitioner Details.
- Select Deactivate Registration.