Tax Clearance Certificate for Tenders — How to Get Your SARS TCS PIN
If a tender asks for a tax clearance certificate, it is asking for something that no longer exists in paper form. SARS scrapped the printed Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) in 2016 and replaced it with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system: you request a TCS PIN on eFiling, and the buyer uses that PIN to check your status with SARS in real time. It is free, and without tax compliance you cannot be awarded a government tender — no matter how good your price is.
What replaced the tax clearance certificate?
Until 2016, SARS issued a paper Tax Clearance Certificate that you photocopied into your bid. That certificate was a snapshot — it could be months out of date, or forged. SARS replaced it with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system. Instead of a certificate, you get a TCS PIN: a code you hand to the buyer, who enters it on SARS eFiling and sees your live compliance status on the spot.
This is why wording differs across tender documents. Older documents still say "attach your tax clearance certificate"; newer ones say "provide your Tax Compliance Status PIN" or "tax compliance status". They all mean the same thing today: prove to SARS's satisfaction that you are tax compliant. That proof starts with actually being compliant.
What SARS checks before it calls you compliant
Your status turns compliant only when all of the following are true:
- You are registered for every tax you should be (income tax, and VAT/PAYE if applicable)
- You have no outstanding returns — not one, on any tax type, for any period
- You have no outstanding debt to SARS — or you have a formal payment arrangement or suspension in place
- Your registered details (RAV01) are up to date
The most common trap is a dormant tax type nobody remembers registering for — an old PAYE or VAT number sitting there with unfiled returns. It will mark you non-compliant even if your income tax is spotless. Fix the returns first; the PIN is the easy part.
How to get your TCS PIN — step by step
- Log in to SARS eFiling with your business profile.
- Go to Tax Status → Tax Compliance Status → activate it if you have not already (a once-off step).
- Choose Tax Compliance Status Request and select the type "Good standing" — that is the one for tenders. ("Approval International Transfer" is a different product, for moving money offshore.)
- Submit the request. If you are compliant, SARS issues a TCS PIN immediately.
- Put the PIN in your bid where the document asks for tax clearance, and keep it — you can reuse it.
If SARS returns "non-compliant", it tells you which requirement failed. Clear that item and request again — the status updates as soon as SARS processes the fix.
How this connects to the CSD
You do not submit your tax status to the CSD separately. The Central Supplier Database verifies your tax compliance directly with SARS using your tax reference number, and displays it on your supplier record. If SARS says non-compliant, your CSD record says non-compliant — and buyers see it. The two are the same fact, shown in two places, which is why fixing SARS fixes both.
Knowing the rules isn't the same as winning
Understanding the paperwork is step one. Winning the bid is step two — and it's where most businesses lose. The Tender Ready SA toolkit hands you the exact system: the returnable-documents checklist that stops you being disqualified, how to price to win, and the dreaded SBD forms decoded in plain English. For R399, once.
Get the R399 toolkit → learn to winFrequently asked questions
How much does a tax clearance certificate cost?
Nothing. SARS does not charge for a Tax Compliance Status PIN, and you can request it yourself on eFiling in minutes. If someone is charging you for a tax clearance certificate, they are charging you for a free service — and for a document that has not existed since 2016.
How long is a TCS PIN valid?
The PIN itself is valid for 12 months, but it does not freeze your status. It shows the buyer your compliance in real time whenever they check it. So if you fall behind on returns after issuing the PIN, a buyer checking next week will see non-compliant — the PIN does not protect you.
Do I still need a tax clearance certificate for a tender?
You need tax compliance, proven with a TCS PIN. Many tender documents still use the old phrase 'tax clearance certificate' — supply your PIN and you have met the requirement. Buyers also see your status automatically via your CSD record.
Can I get a tender if I owe SARS money?
Yes, if you have a formal arrangement. Debt alone does not make you non-compliant — unmanaged debt does. If you enter a payment arrangement or have the debt suspended, SARS can still show you as compliant, which keeps you eligible to bid.
Why does my CSD record say non-compliant when my tax is fine?
Almost always a dormant tax type with unfiled returns — an old VAT or PAYE registration you no longer use. The CSD reads your overall SARS status, so one neglected tax type marks the whole record non-compliant. Check every tax type on eFiling, not just income tax.
What is the difference between 'good standing' and 'approval international transfer'?
'Good standing' is the TCS type you need for tenders and general business. 'Approval International Transfer' (AIT) is for moving funds offshore and involves a much heavier disclosure process. Requesting the wrong one wastes time — for a tender, always choose good standing.
Other compliance guides
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