SARS Registered Representative - Why Your Pty Won't Show on Your eFiling

Last verified 2026-05-14

The problem nobody warns you about

BizPortal registers your Pty and SARS issues a company income-tax number in the same flow. That's the EASY part. What nobody mentions: your new Pty does NOT automatically appear on YOUR eFiling profile.

You have to claim the company as the Registered Representative (the natural person SARS holds liable for the company's tax affairs). Until you do this, SARS has no human to send OTPs to and you can't file anything in the company's name.

How to claim Registered Representative status

Log in to your PERSONAL eFiling.
Go to: Organisations -> SARS Registered Details -> Activate Registered Representative.
Upload: certified ID copy (under 6 months old), proof of address (under 3 months), CIPC certificate (CoR14.3), CIPC notice of incorporation (CoR15.1A or B), and a board resolution appointing you.
Submit. SARS reviews within 21 working days (often longer).
Once approved, your Pty appears under Organisations on your eFiling.

Common rejection reasons

Mismatched residential address between SARS and the proof of address you upload
Expired ID copy (must be issued by SAPS or HPCSA in the last 6 months)
Proof of address older than 3 months
CIPC docs in screenshot / camera-photo format instead of PDF
Missing board resolution
Inconsistent name spellings (must exactly match ID + proof of address + CIPC)

Different from Public Officer (Companies Act)

Confusingly, you also need to appoint a Public Officer under section 246 of the Companies Act, filed at CIPC (not SARS). Most one-person Ptys appoint themselves as BOTH Public Officer and Registered Representative. They are two separate appointments at two different agencies.

Board resolution template

[Company Name] (Pty) Ltd | Reg No: [number]

RESOLUTION OF DIRECTORS - APPOINTMENT OF REGISTERED REPRESENTATIVE

Date: [date]

Resolved that [Your Full Name], ID Number [number], be appointed as the Registered Representative of the Company in terms of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011, and as the Public Officer of the Company in terms of section 246 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008.

Signed: [Director name + signature]

Frequently asked questions

How long does SARS take to approve me as Registered Representative?

Officially 21 business days. In practice 1-6 weeks. Common cause of delay: mismatched address between your upload and what SARS already has on file.

Can my accountant be the Registered Representative instead of me?

Yes. They can also have multiple companies linked to their eFiling. The trade-off: you depend on them being responsive to SARS.

What if SARS keeps rejecting?

Match every document exactly: same name spelling, same address, current dates. Most rejections are mismatches. Re-submit with cleaner docs.

Related SARS guides

Tools

General SARS guidance. Not tax advice. Always check the latest SARS Filing Season notice (https://www.sars.gov.za) for confirmed dates. Last verified 2026-05-14.