A plain guide to tax identification for exporters
TIN, VAT certificate or tax clearance: any one of the three satisfies tax identity on Gloseg. Here is what each one is, when you actually need it, and how to get one in your own country.
- 3
- Documents accepted
- Payouts
- Where it is required
- 48h
- Typical review time
Three documents, all equally accepted
Gloseg calls this requirement "tax identification" rather than "tax certificate" on purpose. Exporters at different stages hold different documents, and only one of them is needed.
TIN certificate
Your Taxpayer Identification Number registration. The simplest option, and usually free. Available to sole traders and companies alike.
VAT certificate
Issued once your turnover crosses your country's VAT registration threshold, or when you register voluntarily.
Tax clearance certificate
Confirms your filings are up to date. Often requested by buyers and by customs for certificate of origin paperwork.
When tax identity actually matters
Before your first payout
Trade Assurance funds are released to a business account. Tax identity is part of confirming that the account and the company are the same entity.
Certificate of origin paperwork
Most issuing authorities ask for a tax reference on the application, alongside your business registration.
Not needed to register or list
You can create a Gloseg workspace, publish products, receive RFQs and quote without any tax document at all.
How to get registered
Register the business first
Tax registration is almost always keyed to your business registration number, so complete that step before applying.
Apply for a taxpayer number
Most African revenue authorities now issue a TIN online, free of charge, within a few working days. You will typically need the registration certificate, a director's ID and a business address.
Register for VAT only if you must
VAT registration usually starts above a turnover threshold. Below it, a TIN alone is enough for Gloseg. Confirm the current threshold with your revenue authority before registering voluntarily.
Keep filings current
A tax clearance certificate is issued only when returns are filed. Buyers on larger contracts often ask for it, so filing on time protects future deals.
Upload it to Gloseg
Open Documents in your supplier workspace, choose Tax identification, and upload a clear scan or phone photo. Add the issue date, and the expiry date if one is printed.
Where to apply, by country
| Country | Authority | Usual document |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) | TIN, now issued via the Ghana Card number |
| Nigeria | Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) | TIN, VAT certificate |
| Kenya | Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) | KRA PIN certificate |
| Liberia | Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) | TIN certificate |
| South Africa | South African Revenue Service (SARS) | Income tax number, VAT number |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Direction Générale des Impôts | Numéro de Compte Contribuable |
| Tanzania | Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) | TIN certificate |
| Egypt | Egyptian Tax Authority | Tax card |
Registration steps, fees and VAT thresholds change. Confirm the current requirement with your revenue authority before you rely on it. This guide is general information, not tax advice.
Four reasons documents get returned
Uploading a personal tax number for a registered company
The name on the tax document must match the entity on your business registration.
Waiting for VAT before listing products
You do not need VAT registration to sell on Gloseg. List first, then complete tax identity before your first payout.
Sending a cropped photo
Reviewers need the whole page: the number, your name, the authority's stamp and any dates.
Uploading an expired clearance certificate
Clearance certificates are usually valid for one tax year. Upload the current one.
Questions suppliers ask
I am a sole trader with no company. Can I still sell?
Yes. You register with your own registered business name and your personal taxpayer number, and your verification level reflects a sole trader rather than a limited company.
My country does not require tax registration at my turnover. What then?
Upload whatever registration you do hold, or open a support request from your Documents page. Our reviewers can record a threshold exemption note against your workspace so payouts are not blocked indefinitely.
Who can see my tax document?
Only Gloseg compliance reviewers. Buyers see your verification level and company details, never the underlying files.
Do you accept a document in French, Portuguese or Arabic?
Yes. Our reviewers work across the languages used by African revenue authorities. A translation is not required.
Supplier compliance
Ready to complete your verification?
Upload your tax document, business registration and director ID in one pass. Reviews are usually decided within 48 hours.