The new Electronic Tax Compliance Status (ETCS) System will be replacing the paper based Tax Clearance Certificates(TCC) issued by SARS. The new system will enable accounting officers and accounting authorities to verify and continuously track the tax compliance status of all persons conducting business with the state. The system allows for the online real-time verification of a person’s tax compliance status. SARS stated clearly that as from 1 April 2015 they will no longer issue paper bases tax clearance certificates.
For any tax compliance status to be disclosed, for bid submission purposes or confirmation of goods standing after the phasing out of paper based Tax Clearance CertificatesTCCs ensure that you request for a unique security personal identification number from SARS.
The new PIN will be used to verify a person’s tax compliance status with SARS. Bids submitted in the transitional period must be accompanied by a valid original paper based clearance certificate. Awarded contracts on paper based Tax Clearance Certificate TCC must have a SARS PIN on request by the government institutions or departments in order to verify their tax compliance status.