SARS:

6 April 2022 – New scam: Customer PO Order
6 April 2022 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariff amendment notices R1993, R1994, R1995, R1996 and R1997, as published in Government Gazette 46203 on 6 April 2022, are now available
6 April 2022 – As we prepare for the Easter season, we anticipate an increase in travellers entering and leaving South Africa via air, sea and land ports. SARS would like to provide clarity on the tax obligations pertaining to travellers. It is for this reason that we have been doing extensive work in pursuing the mandate of creating awareness and empowering travellers with knowledge of what to expect when entering and leaving South Africa. This will make it easier for traders and travellers to comply while saving them time and costs that come with non-compliance.

Travellers are reminded to watch the recorded Customs Requirements for Travellers Webinar on the SARS TV channel.

Also, see our Travellers leaflet with summarised information that will assist travellers to comply with payments of duty and/or VAT, as well as goods that have restrictions.

5 April 2022 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964: The tariff amendment notices, scheduled for publication in the Government Gazette, relate to the amendments to –

Part 3A of Schedule No. 1, by an increase of 3c/bag in the rate of environmental levy on plastic bags from 25c/bag to 28c/bag, to give effect to the Budget proposals announced by the Minister of Finance on 23 February 2022;

Part 3C of Schedule No. 1, by an increase of R5/lamp in the rate of environmental levy on light bulbs from R10/lamp to R15/lamp, to give effect to the Budget proposals announced by the Minister of Finance on 23 February 2022; and

Part 3D of Schedule No. 1, by an increase of R12 per g//km CO₂on carbon dioxide emissions tax from R120 to R132, on new passenger vehicles with emissions exceeding 95g/km and by R16g/km CO₂from R160 to R176, on new double cab vehicles with emissions exceeding 175g/km, to give effect to the Budget proposals announced by the Minister of Finance on 23 February 2022.

The amendments are with effect from 6 April 2022

Publication details will be made available later

5 April 2022 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964: The tariff amendment notices, scheduled for publication in the Government Gazette, relate to the amendments to –

Part 5A of Schedule No. 1 by the substitution of Note 8 by the increase of 1c in the carbon fuel levy from 8c/li to 9c/li for petrol and from 9c/li to 10c/li for diesel, respectively, to give effect to the Budget proposals announced by the Minister of Finance on 23 February 2022. Additionally, Part 5A in Schedule No. 1 is amended through the reduction of R1.50 per litre of the general fuel levy for petrol from R3.85/l to R2.35/l and for diesel from R3.70/l to R2.20/l as announced by the Minister of Finance on 31 March 2022; and

Part 3 of Schedule No. 6 as a consequence to the reduction in the general fuel levy as announced by the Minister of Finance on 31 March 2022, the diesel refund provisions are adjusted accordingly.

The amendments are with effect from 6 April 2022 up to and including 31 May 2022

Publication details will be made available later

5 April 2022 – Customs Weekly List of Unentered Goods
5 April 2022 – The tax workshop schedules for April to June 2022 are now available. To see the schedules, click here.

4 April 2022 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964: Rule amendment notice R181, as published in Government Gazette 46165 on 1 April 2022, relating to the amendments to the rules published under section 120, to insert Kosi Bay as a place of entry in the Schedule to the Customs and Excise Rules, 1995 (DAR231)
4 April 2022 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariff amendment notice R180, as published in Government Gazette 46165 on 1 April 2022, are now available
1 April 2022 – As some reporters are currently still in the process of making systems and operational changes to ensure full reporting compliance, industry has requested SARS to extend the pilot once again. Taking this into consideration, SARS will extend the pilot by another month until 30 April 2022. The imposition of monetary penalties for the non-submission of cargo reports will now commence from 1 May 2022. For more information, see Extension of the ePenalty deadline.

1 April 2022 – In its 25^th anniversary year, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pleased to announce the preliminary tax revenue collection outcome after the second year of national COVID-19 lockdown regulations. It should be noted that these are preliminary results, which will be subject to detailed financial reconciliation and a final audit.

For the period ending 31 March 2022, SARS collected a gross amount of R1 884.9 billion (R1 540.5 billion in the prior year). Offset by refunds of R321.1 billion (R290.7 billion in the prior year), this results in net collections of R1 563.8 billion, which represented a surplus of R314.0 billion (25.1%) against the prior year 2020/21.

For the full media statement, click here.

SARS Commissioner’s speaking notes.

31 March 2022 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964: The tariff amendment notice, scheduled for publication in the Government Gazette, relates to the –

impositioning of provisional payments in relation to anti-dumping duties against the alleged dumping of non-articulated welded link chains, which are manufactured from round section of iron or steel wire, bars or rods of a diameter of 4 mm or more, but not exceeding 20 mm, originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China – ITAC Report 686 (with from 1 April 2022 up to and including 16 September 2022).

Publication details will be made available later

31 March 2022 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for February 2022 recording a preliminary trade balance surplus of R10.60 billion. These statistics include trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN). The year-to-date (01 January to 28 February 2022) preliminary trade balance surplus of R14.67 billion is a deterioration from the R45.21 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2021. Exports increased by 7.3% year-on-year whilst imports increased by 31.4% over the same period.

The R10.60 billion preliminary trade balance surplus for February 2022 is attributable to exports of R141.15 billion and imports of R130.55 billion. Exports increased by R10.51 billion (8.0%) between January and February 2022 and imports increased by R3.98 billion (3.1%) over the same period.

See the full media statement here.

Visit the Trade Statistics webpage.

30 March 2022 – “SARS – A future reimagined”. We are on an exciting journey to build “a smart modern SARS with unquestionable integrity, trusted and admired by all”. Our mandate is to ensure optimal compliance with tax and Customs legislation. We do this through fostering a culture of Voluntary Compliance and by making it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their legal obligations. Our Higher Purpose, the reason that SARS exists, is to provide resources that help to build a capable state that nurtures sustainable economic growth, social development and that serves the well-being of all South Africans. We are Nation Builders.

Click here to apply.

NATIONAL TREASURY: