One of the pleasant surprises of the South African system: SARS company tax registration for income tax is automatic. The moment CIPC issues your registration certificate, your company is on the SARS register with its own income tax reference number. But “automatic” does not mean “finished” – here is what still needs to happen before your company is truly tax-ready.
What happens automatically – and what does not
| Tax item | Automatic? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax number | Yes – via CIPC | Nothing; we can confirm it for you |
| eFiling activation | No | Activate your company profile on SARS eFiling |
| Public officer appointment | No | Required by SARS – Admin Boss does it for R350 |
| VAT registration | No | Compulsory over R1m turnover – from R850 via Admin Boss |
| PAYE (employer) registration | No | Needed when you pay salaries – R700 via Admin Boss |
| UIF / COIDA (staff) | No | Needed when you employ staff – see our compliance guides |
Activate eFiling and appoint your public officer
SARS will not talk to your company until a public officer is appointed – a director SARS holds accountable for the company’s tax affairs. Pair that with an activated eFiling profile and you can file returns, request tax clearance certificates and manage everything online. Both are quick when done correctly and painful when done wrong, which is why most of our clients simply let us set it up.
Your tax number is automatic – the rest takes a few smart steps. Photo: Evan-Amos, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Taxes your company will actually pay
A standard (Pty) Ltd pays corporate income tax at a flat 27% on profits, files two provisional tax payments a year plus an annual return, and – once registered – charges 15% VAT. Miss the filings and penalties arrive even if no tax is due. New to the obligations? Our post-registration checklist walks through the first 90 days, and the Business Compliance Checker flags anything you have missed. Need to invoice clients with correct VAT from day one? InvoiceBoss is Admin Boss’s free South African invoicing app.
Public officer, eFiling, VAT, PAYE – Admin Boss sets up your complete SARS profile while you focus on sales.
Sort out my company tax →
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my company with SARS separately?
No separate income tax registration is needed – when CIPC registers your company, SARS automatically issues an income tax reference number. You do, however, still need to activate eFiling, appoint a public officer, and register separately for VAT, PAYE or UIF if they apply.
How do I get my company tax number from SARS?
Your company income tax number is generated automatically when CIPC registers the company. If you never received it, Admin Boss can retrieve and confirm it for you as part of our tax setup service.
What is a SARS public officer?
A public officer is the person SARS holds responsible for your company’s tax affairs – usually a director. SARS requires every company to appoint one, and Admin Boss handles the appointment for R350.
When must my company register for VAT?
VAT registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover exceeds R1 million in any 12-month period. Below that threshold you can register voluntarily, which can make sense if your clients are VAT vendors. Admin Boss registers companies for VAT from R850.
When do I need PAYE registration?
You must register for PAYE as soon as your company pays salaries to employees (including directors drawing a salary above the tax threshold). PAYE registration through Admin Boss costs R700.
Keep reading
The other yearly filing your company must never miss.
Every registration and setup step after CIPC.
Includes automatic SARS income tax registration.
VAT, PAYE, UIF, public officer and tax clearance pricing.
Last reviewed: August 2026. Sources: South African Revenue Service (SARS) and CIPC. This page is general information, not tax advice.