Quick Answer What Is a SARS Public Officer and Does My Company Need One? A public officer is the natural person a company appoints as its official representative to SARS – answerable for the company’s tax affairs. Every company carrying on business must appoint one within one month of starting to trade. It is usually a director, and SARS holds that person accountable. What this means in plain language The public officer is SARS’s point of contact with the company: the person who signs returns, answers queries and is expected to ensure compliance. In small companies it is almost always the founding director. The role carries real responsibility – SARS…