Tax Reference Number
Quick Answer
What is Tax Reference Number?
The tax reference number is the unique number SARS assigns to each taxpayer – one per person or company, for life.
Tax Reference Number explained
Companies receive one automatically at CIPC registration. Individuals register on eFiling or at SARS. You quote it on returns, applications and the TCS system.
Who it applies to: Every taxpayer.
Cost: Free.
Related terms and guides
Official source: SARS (South African Revenue Service)
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.
About BizAnswers: BizAnswers is a privately owned South African company – not a government department. Our guides are free to read and show you how to do things yourself through official channels. If you would rather have the paperwork handled for you, we assist individuals and businesses with filing their South African tax returns and staying compliant, which is a paid service, not a free government service. Contact us for help.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.