During the 2026 filing season, your SARS tax number is a confidential identifier linked to your personal income tax record. If you have forgotten it, you can request it through official SARS channels. SARS will not give your tax number to another person unless they are your tax practitioner or have authority to act for you.
Find your tax number on eFiling
Log in to your SARS eFiling profile and open your personal income tax details or assessment documents. Your tax reference number may appear on your Notice of Assessment, Statement of Account or other SARS correspondence.
Use the official SARS eFiling website by typing the address yourself. Do not follow a link in a message that says your tax number is blocked or your refund is waiting.
Request it on SARS WhatsApp
Save SARS’s official WhatsApp number, 0800 11 7277, and send “Hi”. Select the option for Tax Reference Number. SARS will ask for identity and demographic information so it can authenticate you. The cellphone number you use must match your registered contact details.
You can also use SARS’s Lwazi AI Assistant, submit an online query or contact SARS on 0800 00 7277. The official SARS tax-number page lists the available routes.
What if you have never registered?
You can register for Personal Income Tax through eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, WhatsApp or the SARS Online Query System. SARS may ask for identity and supporting information before issuing a tax number. Keep the confirmation after registration.
Do not publish or share it casually
A tax number is not a password, but it is still personal information. Share it only with SARS, your employer, a verified tax practitioner or an organisation that genuinely needs it. Never send your eFiling password, OTP or banking PIN with it.
If the number appears to have disappeared from your profile, CodeCash has a related guide on what to do when a SARS tax reference number is missing. Check the official profile before assuming that a message is genuine.