Tax compliance status shows non-compliant
A non-compliant tax compliance status can block a tender, a contract or a property transfer. The instinct is to fix it fast, but the right first step is to diagnose why it shows non-compliant - outstanding returns, an unpaid balance, or an account inconsistency. This page is the diagnosis; the commercial remediation service handles the fix once the cause is clear.
Diagnose the cause before seeking the fix
A non-compliant status has one of three usual causes: an outstanding return, an unpaid balance, or an account inconsistency. Each requires a different remedy, and some - like a return SARS has not yet processed - may resolve without intervention. No claim is made that a payment plan instantly turns the status green; compliance depends on the facts and SARS decisions.
Three causes to check
These three checks isolate the cause before any remediation begins. Treating the wrong cause wastes time - for example, arranging a payment plan when the real issue is a missing return.
Outstanding returns
One or more returns may not have been filed, or may not yet reflect as received. A missing return is the most common cause of a non-compliant status. Check which tax types and periods show as outstanding before assuming the issue is a debt.
Outstanding balances
An unpaid tax debt - including one arising from an estimated assessment - can hold the status non-compliant. The statement of account shows whether a balance exists and which tax type and period it relates to.
Account inconsistencies
Sometimes the status reflects an account discrepancy rather than a genuine failure - a return SARS has not yet processed, an allocation error, or a stale record. These are worth distinguishing from real non-compliance before acting.
Two records reveal the cause
The filing record and the statement of account together show whether the cause is a missing return, a balance, or an inconsistency. Checking both before acting prevents treating the wrong cause.
Why this matters: the filing record shows which returns SARS has received and which are outstanding - the starting point for the outstanding returns catch-up. The statement of account shows whether a balance exists and how it arose. Where a balance is the cause and it is unaffordable, a payment plan may be relevant - but it does not instantly turn the status green. The assessment confirms the cause before any remediation is recommended.
What to do now
Diagnose, then remediate: check the filing record and the statement of account to isolate the cause. If returns are outstanding, the catch-up is the first step. If a balance is the cause, address the debt - and where it is disputed, the underlying assessment. Once the cause is clear, the compliance status service page explains the commercial remediation. The assessment confirms the cause before any work begins.
What is and is not promised
What review can do
- Diagnose whether the cause is returns, a balance, or an inconsistency.
- Distinguish a genuine failure from an account error or processing delay.
- Map the correct remediation once the cause is confirmed.
What is not promised
- That a payment plan instantly turns the status green. It does not.
- That a compliant PIN follows automatically from any single submission.
- A guaranteed outcome. SARS decides whether compliance is achieved.
Questions about a non-compliant status
What might be causing the status?
One of three things: an outstanding return that was not filed or has not yet reflected as received; an unpaid tax balance, including one from an estimated assessment; or an account inconsistency such as a processing delay or allocation error. The filing record and the statement of account together reveal which cause applies. Each requires a different remedy, so diagnosing the cause comes first.
Which records should I check?
Two records: the filing record, showing which returns SARS has received and which are outstanding; and the statement of account, showing whether a balance exists and how it arose. Together they isolate the cause. If returns are outstanding, the outstanding returns page explains the catch-up.
Can an account error be reviewed?
Yes. Sometimes a non-compliant status reflects an account inconsistency rather than a genuine failure - a return SARS has not yet processed, an allocation error, or a stale record. These are worth distinguishing from real non-compliance, because the remedy may be a correction or a query rather than filing or payment. The compliance status service page covers the commercial remediation once the cause is confirmed.
Diagnose the cause before you seek the fix
A confidential assessment isolates whether the cause is returns, a balance or an account inconsistency, and maps the correct remediation. No instant green status is promised. No documents or passwords are required to begin.