The South African Revenue Service (SARS) assigns a VAT number to registered businesses. Allows you to collect VAT on sales and reclaim VAT on eligible expenses. VAT is applied at a standard rate of 15 per cent on the supply of goods and services by registered suppliers. VAT means Value Added Tax. Only those countries with a VAT system will require companies to have a VAT number. A VAT number is an identification number for all VAT purposes in the country where the number was issued. Very often, the VAT number will be the only tax identification number in the relevant country.