VAT registration

Registering for VAT at SARS is document-heavy and query-prone, and a rejected application costs you weeks. We prepare it properly the first time, handle the SARS back and forth, and hand you your VAT number. Fixed price, in writing.

R2 490fixed, no SARS fee · 10 to 21 business days

VAT registration costs R2 490 at ProperSA. That is our fixed service fee; government and authority fees are charged at cost on top. Turnaround: typically 10 to 21 business days. If you give us everything we ask for and we still fail to deliver what this page promises, we refund our fee; a refusal by the authority is not refundable.

Independent paperwork service. ProperSA is an independent private company, not SARS. You can apply for VAT registration yourself on eFiling at no charge. Our fee pays for us to prepare the application, submit it and answer SARS queries.

What is included

Your application prepared on the basis you choose, compulsory or voluntary. Our free threshold calculator above works out where you stand, and you tell us which one you are applying for
The VAT101 application prepared and submitted on eFiling
Supporting documents checked before submission, the step most rejections come from
SARS queries and verification handled for you until the number is issued
Your VAT registration confirmation delivered to your portal
A first VAT cycle cheat sheet: invoicing rules, return dates, what to keep

Who must register, and who should

Registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies pass R2.3 million in any 12 month period (raised from R1 million on 1 April 2026). Voluntary registration is available from R120 000 turnover, and often worth it if your customers are VAT-registered businesses or you carry significant input costs. Not sure which you are? Say so in the questionnaire and we assess it as part of the fixed price.

Quick check: do you have to register? Enter your taxable turnover for the last 12 months.

SARS commonly asks for proof of trading, bank statements and premises details, and rejects applications with gaps. Our preparation step exists to make the first submission the last one.

How ordering works

Order online and answer the questionnaire, turnover, bank details, trading history.
We check your supporting documents, prepare the VAT101 and submit on eFiling.
We handle SARS queries; your VAT number and confirmation land in your portal. Typical SARS processing: 10 to 21 business days.

Start my VAT registration

Not sure this is the right one for you? Ask us first and you get a written answer within one business day.

What we will need from you

SARS verifies most VAT applications, so the file matters more than the form. Gaps do not get refused, they get queued.

A registered representative already active on eFiling. Nothing proceeds without it, and this is the most common reason an application goes nowhere.
Proof you passed the threshold, or will. Invoices, contracts, bank statements or financial statements showing taxable supplies over R2.3 million in a rolling 12 months.
For voluntary registration, proof of R120 000 in taxable supplies over the past 12 months.
A business bank account in the exact name of the entity. SARS verifies it, and a mismatch fails silently.
Proof of the business address, recent, and in the entity’s name where possible.
Identity documents for directors, members or the sole proprietor.
A clear description of what you sell.

Frequently asked questions

How long does VAT registration take in South Africa?

With complete documents, typically 10 to 21 business days at SARS. Verification requests can stretch it; incomplete first submissions are the biggest cause of long delays, which is exactly what our preparation prevents.

Can I register for VAT voluntarily below R2.3 million turnover?

Yes, from R120 000 in taxable supplies over 12 months (or with evidence you will reach it). Voluntary registration lets you claim input VAT and looks established to corporate customers, but it commits you to returns, we help you weigh it.

What documents does SARS need for VAT registration?

Typically: company registration documents, the representative's ID, proof of business address, proof of bank account, and evidence of trading such as invoices or contracts. We check yours against SARS's current list before anything is submitted.

What happens after I get my VAT number?

You charge 15% VAT on taxable supplies, issue tax invoices with your VAT number, and file returns (usually every two months). Your cheat sheet covers the first cycle; ongoing VAT returns are a separate service.

This is an administrative service performed with your authority on your own SARS profile. ProperSA is not a registered tax practitioner and does not provide tax advice or complete tax returns; where a matter needs a registered practitioner, we say so and refer you before any work starts. SARS requires the application to be signed by the owner, partner or representative vendor, and will not accept a power of attorney for that signature, so you sign it and not us. If SARS calls the application in for a branch interview, SARS requires you or your representative vendor to attend in person. Source: SARS guide VAT-REG-02-G01.