Summary points The TARCiS (Terminology, Application, and Reporting of Citation Searching) statement provides guidance in which contexts citation searching is likely to be beneficial for systematic reviewers TARCiS comprises 10 specific recommendations on when and how to conduct citation searching and how to report it in the context of systematic literature searches, and also frames four research priorities The statement will contribute to a unified terminology, systematic application, and transparent reporting of citation searching and support those who are conducting or assessing citation searching methods