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// GUIDE

Valid Tax Invoice: What SARS Needs on a Slip or Invoice

Short answer: A supplier who is a VAT vendor must give you a tax invoice with specific details so that you can claim the VAT back. Above R5 000 you need a full tax invoice. Between R50 and R5 000 an abridged one is enough. Under R50 a till slip is enough.

Last checked 19/10/2026. Figures from SARS.

Full tax invoice (more than R5 000)

  • The words "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice" or "Invoice".
  • The supplier's name, address and VAT registration number.
  • The buyer's name, address and, if the buyer is a vendor, VAT number.
  • A serial number and the date.
  • A description of the goods or services, and the quantity or volume.
  • The value, the VAT amount and the total.

SARS's checklist says all of these criteria must be met.

Abridged tax invoice (R50 to R5 000)

The same details are needed, except that the buyer's name, address and VAT number and the quantity do not have to be shown.

Under R50

No tax invoice is required, but a till slip or sales docket that shows the VAT charged is needed to support the input VAT you claim.

Other points

  • A full tax invoice is needed for zero rated supplies even when the amount is under R5 000.
  • A supplier must issue the tax invoice within 21 days of the supply.
  • If a detail is missing, ask the supplier to correct the invoice. A claim can be rejected if it is not valid.

How OptiTax does this on WhatsApp

  1. Send a photo of the slip on WhatsApp and the details are read from it.
  2. Ask for your VAT for any period to see what you can claim.
  3. Ask for a slip back later: "show me my last slip".

Start free on WhatsApp from R99 a month

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim VAT on a slip without the supplier's VAT number?

Not as input VAT. The supplier's VAT number is one of the details SARS requires. Ask the supplier for a proper tax invoice.

Does a card statement count?

Not on its own. It shows a payment, not the details of a tax invoice.

How long do I keep invoices?

Five years from the date you submit the return. See our page on keeping slips for SARS.

Sources

Related guides

VAT Registration Threshold in South Africa (and How to Calculate 15% VAT)When a South African business must register for VAT, the voluntary threshold, and how to work out 15% VAT on a price.What Can I Claim as a Sole Proprietor in South Africa?What a South African sole proprietor can deduct from business income, what SARS does not allow, and the records to keep.SARS Deadlines for Small Business, 2026/27Key SARS dates for small businesses and sole proprietors for the 2026/27 year, with links to the official SARS calendar.

All answers

General information, not tax advice. Check your own situation with SARS or a registered tax practitioner.