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How to appoint a registered representative

Need to act on behalf of your company at SARS? You’ll need to appoint a registered representative, the official person authorised to interact with SARS on behalf of your company, trust, or other legal entity. In this article, we’ll walk you through what a registered representative is, when you need one, and how to register.


Estimated reading time: 2 minutes


What Is a Registered Representative?


A registered representative is a natural person who acts on behalf of a legal entity in all interactions with SARS. This includes companies, trusts, joint ventures, and more.


For companies, this individual is usually referred to as the public officer and must be formally appointed by a resolution of the board. Once appointed, the representative is authorised to manage the entity’s tax affairs, correspondence, and eFiling profile.



According to SARS:


  • Every legal entity must have a registered representative on record.
  • You must notify SARS of the appointment within 14 days.
  • A company may have multiple representatives internally, but only one official representative may be registered with SARS.
  • Appointments can be made via eFiling or through the SARS Online Query System.


Who Must Appoint a Registered Representative?

Registered representatives must be appointed for:


  • Companies (public and private)
  • Trusts
  • Non-profit organisations
  • Partnerships
  • Estates
  • Other legal persons/entities


How to Appoint a Registered Representative


SARS now offers an online query system where companies can submit their registered representative details and supporting documents.


Step 1: Go to the SARS website and click on the “Online Services” tab, then select “Register a Representative.”


Step 2: Choose the representative’s capacity from the dropdown menu, for example:


  • Public Officer (for companies)
  • Main Trustee (for trusts)


  • Main Member (for close corporations)
  • Accounting Officer, Liquidator, Executor, Curator, or Parent/Guardian


Register a Representative

Step 3: Choose the correct entity type (Company, Trust, Partnership, etc.) and fill in all the required fields with accurate company or individual details.


Select the Type of Entity


Step 4: Provide the full details of the person being registered, including name, ID number, and contact information.


Representative Contact Details

Step 5: Click “Add Documents” and upload the necessary files. These include:


  • A signed appointment letter or power of attorney


  • COR14.3 (company registration certificate) or equivalent founding documents


  • Certified ID copy of the representative


  • Live photo of the representative holding their ID and a note reading *“Update my details”


  • Proof of residential address (not older than 3 months)


PS: You can click on the “Document Requirements” **option to review SARS’ full list of accepted formats.


Step 6: Once all documents are attached, click “Done” and then “Submit.” SARS will provide a case number and send an email to confirm receipt.


What Happens Next?


A SARS official will review your submission. If all documents are in order, the case will be processed within 21 business days. You’ll receive the outcome of your application via email.


How InfoDocs Helps?


InfoDocs helps you stay compliant by generating the required appointment documents, including the ordinary resolution and consent to act — which you can then submit to SARS via their Online Query System.


Get started with InfoDocs today

Updated on: 17/05/2025

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