Industry
GOVERNMENT
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SARS jobs and careers in South Africa
SARS operates one of South Africa’s largest government contact centres, answering tax queries, eFiling support, customs and VAT questions for millions of individual and business taxpayers. The service runs from a dedicated operation with more than 2,000 staff who handle calls on weekdays between 8:00 and 16:00, with adjusted Wednesday hours.
Pretoria Johannesburg Cape Town Durban
Evidence-led company research
What SARS jobs research shows
SARS operates one of South Africa’s largest government contact centres, answering tax queries, eFiling support, customs and VAT questions for millions of individual and business taxpayers. The service runs from a dedicated operation with more than 2,000 staff who handle calls on weekdays between 8:00 and 16:00, with adjusted Wednesday hours.
Locations
Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town
Company size
2,000+ (contact centre)
Role areas
Contact Centre Agent, eFiling Support Consultant, Tax Compliance Officer
Typical pay
R9,000–R24,000/month
Head office
Pretoria
Founded
1997
What the work may be like
Working at the SARS contact centre means being part of one of South Africa's most professional government operations. The environment is structured and compliance-driven — agents are trained thoroughly on tax legislation and system tools before going live.
It's demanding work, especially during tax season, but the job security, benefits, and the sense that your work genuinely matters to millions of South Africans make it one of the most sought-after government contact centre roles in the country.
Hiring and application process
Candidates can apply for SARS contact centre and other roles via the official SARS careers portal or approved South African job platforms when vacancies are posted. Applications undergo initial screening for Matric or higher qualifications, followed by skills or psychometric assessments, panel interviews, and mandatory background checks that confirm a clean criminal record and any finance or tax experience.
The full process from submission to offer typically takes six to twelve weeks due to government compliance requirements. Applicants should prepare by studying SARS eFiling and tax procedures to demonstrate relevant knowledge during assessments.
Who may be a good fit
- Candidates with a finance, tax, or customer service background who want the long-term stability and benefits of permanent government employment
- Exceptional job security — permanent government employment
- Above-average salaries for the public sector
- Full benefits package — medical aid, pension, generous leave
What candidates should verify
- • Hiring is highly competitive — application and vetting process is thorough
- • Tax season (February–November) brings extreme call volumes and pressure
- • Large bureaucratic environment can slow career decisions
- • Confirm salary, shift, location and campaign details in the live vacancy.
- • Use the employer's official application channel and never pay to apply.
Open roles at SARS
Current listings sourced from public employer and job-board pages.
There are no current public listings shown for this location. Roles can close quickly, so check the official careers page or create a free ShiftMate match alert.
What to expect
Career areas
Contact Centre Agent · eFiling Support Consultant · Tax Compliance Officer · Customs & Excise Agent · Team Leader
Entry guidance
Matric minimum; BCom or National Diploma in Finance/Tax advantageous; contact centre or financial services experience valued; clean criminal record required
Hiring process
Candidates can apply for SARS contact centre and other roles via the official SARS careers portal or approved South African job platforms when vacancies are posted. Applications undergo initial screening for Matric or higher qualifications, followed by skills or psychometric assessments, panel interviews, and mandatory background checks that confirm a clean criminal record and any finance or tax experience. The full process from submission to offer typically takes six to twelve weeks due to government compliance requirements. Applicants should prepare by studying SARS eFiling and tax procedures to demonstrate relevant knowledge during assessments.
Training
Training is listed in public company information for some roles. Confirm the details for the vacancy you apply to.
- One of SA's most stable government employers
- Above-market government salary scales
- Comprehensive employee benefits and pension fund
- National footprint across all major cities