By Ascendant Financial Services (Pty) Ltd

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) employs robust measures to ensure the safety and confidentiality of taxpayer information.

The organisation adheres to local and international standards, including compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), to safeguard personal and financial details.

With the latest introduction of Biometric Technology, SARS reinforces its commitment to maintaining trust and ensuring the integrity of taxpayer information and to guard you against profile hijacking and identify fraud.

In a recent letter published by SARS – SARS is keeping your eFiling and tax information safe with biometrics – they indicated that Biometric Facial-recognition authentication will be introduced for all individuals who register for eFiling using a valid South African ID.

Please take note of the important changes as published by SARS

• Biometric identification applies to the eFiling website, SARS MobiApp, and SARS Self Service Kiosks.
• The system will provide instructions – such as the background setting, removal of head gear and glasses, facial position, and distance from the camera – as well as online guidance to help users capture clear photos for authentication.
• The photos will be matched in real-time against the applicable reference data (e.g. SARS and Department of Home Affairs [DHA] records). The system will immediately provide the outcome of the biometric authentication.

Individuals using the eFiling website or SARS MobiApp to register will require a device with a camera, such as a desktop webcam, laptop camera, or smartphone camera.

• If the individual cancels the biometric facial authentication, the eFiling registration process will end.
• If the biometric authentication is not successful because no reference image can be found on SARS or DHA records, the individual must book an appointment for a SARS official to assist with the eFiling registration.
• If the biometric authentication is not successful because the photos captured cannot be matched to the existing images available on SARS or DHA records, an eFiling verification case will be created and the normal process will apply. This means that the individual will be prompted to log onto eFiling and provide additional information and supporting documents to complete the verification.
• Individuals who do not have access to a device with a camera must book an appointment for a SARS official to assist with eFiling registration.

Please note: the usual eFiling registration authentication and manual verification process will still apply to non-South African citizens.

Sources:

Register for efiling (2024) South African Revenue Service. Available at: https://www.sars.gov.za/individuals/how-do-i-register-for-tax/register-for-efiling/ (Accessed: 04 December 2024).

SARS is keeping your efiling and tax information safe with biometrics (2024) South African Revenue Service. Available at: https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/sars-is-keeping-your-efiling-and-tax-information-safe-with-biometrics/ (Accessed: 04 December 2024).