A registered representative is the person SARS recognises as authorised to act on behalf of your company. When SARS needs to communicate with your company — or when your company needs to file returns, update details, or respond to queries — it happens through this person.
Who can be a registered representative?
For a company, the representative must be a natural person connected to the business, usually a director. The role is called the public officer. The person must:
Be a South African resident
Have a South African ID or valid passport
Have their own tax number
Why does my company need one?
Without a registered representative, your company cannot:
File tax returns on eFiling, including provisional tax (IRP6) and annual income tax (ITR14)
Update company details with SARS, such as the registered address or bank account
Register for VAT or PAYE
Respond to SARS queries or disputes
How long does the appointment take?
SARS can take up to 21 days to process a registered representative appointment. If you have a filing deadline coming up, appoint your representative well before it.
How do I appoint one?
You can appoint a registered representative yourself on eFiling, or Govchain can handle it for you — we prepare the paperwork, submit it to SARS, and follow up until it's confirmed.