SARS has changed how VAT and PAYE registrations work. When someone applies to register a company for VAT or PAYE, SARS sends the request to that company's registered representative for approval. The registration can't go ahead until the registered representative approves it.
If you're the registered representative, you'll get an email or SMS from SARS with the subject SARS Tax Product registration request received. It contains a code you'll need.
The email names the tax practitioner who submitted the application. That's a person at the firm handling the registration, so the name may be unfamiliar.
Each registration gets its own request. A company registering for both VAT and PAYE gets two emails, approved separately.
Approve the request
Go to www.sars.gov.za
Click Manage Access Requests
Answer whether you're a South African citizen
Enter your ID or passport number
Enter the code from the email or SMS in the Tax Reference Number / Unique Identifier field
Click Submit
Read the power of attorney, select Authorise, then Submit
You have 10 working days to approve. The exact date is in the email. After that the request falls away and the application has to be submitted again.
If SARS asks for biometrics
SARS may show a Biometrics Notice partway through. It uses your device camera to check your face against your ID. Click Next and follow the prompts.
This is a once-off. If you've already verified your biometrics with SARS, you won't see it.
If you can't find the email or SMS
Two things usually cause this:
Your contact details at SARS are out of date. SARS sends to the email address and cell number on your SARS profile, not the ones you gave the person applying. See How to check and update your contact details at SARS.
You're not the registered representative. Only the registered representative gets the request. If someone else holds that role at SARS, it went to them. See How do I check who my company's SARS registered representative is?
Registering through Govchain? Once you approve, we pick it up from there — nothing further is needed from you.