SARS and Covid -19

SARS and Covid -19

Written on 03/23/2020
Profmark Team


In light of the Covid-19 outbreak SARS has announced a number of operational changes as detailed below.  

Social Distancing 

Taxpayers are discouraged to come into SARS branches and are advised to make use of on-line digital channels for all engagements  

The majority of business can be done on SARS eFiling platform: www.sarsefiling.co.za 

SARS mobiApp in addition to Personal Income Tax functionality provides additional information  

Should taxpayers still require contact with SARS please phone the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277, instead of visiting a branch 

If you still required to visit a SARS Tax branch, strict adherence to social distancing and general hygiene practices will be applied  

Within the guidelines as set out by the President, a maximum of 100 taxpayers will be allowed in branches at any one point in time and will be managed firmly  

Taxpayers should watch branch visitor volumes and queue times on the SARS website and the SARS mobiApp. This should help you to plan around needing to visit an alternate branch if really necessary. 

All SARS branches as well as ports of entry have been equipped with hand sanitizers  

Additional SARS procedures have been put in place and will be utilized to ensure that work surfaces are regularly cleaned and sanitized 

Staff have also been provided with additional protective gear such as gloves, and where required, additional protective equipment such as masks and suits.  

Everyone to observe strict 1-meter distances and avoid person to person contact as far as possible. 

Service-Related Matters 

A large part of daily visitors to SARS Tax offices are individuals requesting a tax reference number for the purpose of employment.  

Until further notice, SARS will no longer issue these tax reference numbers for this category of request and individuals are requested not to visit branches for this purpose.  

SARS will shortly provide a solution whereby digital channels (eFiling, MobiApp) will cater for this requirement.  

In the meantime, please request your employer to register you online with SARS.  

There is no requirement to register with SARS ahead of looking for a job, and a prospective employer may register you as well. 

If supporting documentation is required by SARS, you encouraged to follow these guidelines: 

  • Upload via eFiling  
  • Make use of the SARS mobiApp 
  • Drop off documents at a branch drop-box 

If all else fails, SARS will provide a drop box in branch offices 

Should you require assistance with any SARS related matter do not hesitate to contact us for professional advice in this regard. 


DISCLAIMER: The material and information contained in this article is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information in this article as the basis for making any business, legal or other decisions.