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2024 Legal and Policy

Legal and Policy - 5 December 2024

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Legal and Policy - 5 December 2024

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SARS

  • 28 November 2024 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: The tariff amendments notice, scheduled for publication in the Government Gazette, relate to the –
  • imposition of provisional payments in relation to anti-dumping duties against the increased imports of U, I and H sections of iron or non-alloy steel, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded (excluding H- Sections of a height greater than 200 mm), and other angles and shapes of iron or nonalloy steel, of a height of 80 mm or more not further worked than hot-rolled, hot drawn, or extruded, classifiable in tariff subheadings 7216.31; 7216.32; 7216.33 and 7216.50, originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China and Thailand (ITAC Report 737).

Publication details will be made available later

  • 29 November 2024 – Customs and Excise Act, 1964: Publication details for tariff amendment notice R5601, as published in Government Gazette 51693 of 29 November 2024, are now available.
  • 29 November 2024 – South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R14.6 billion in October 2024. This surplus was attributable to exports of R179.6 billion and imports of R165.0 billion.

See the full media release here – Media Release October 2024.

Or visit the Trade Statistics webpage.

  • 29 November 2024 – Next week Cape Town will become the centre for global customs and trade facilitation discussions when South Africa hosts the WCO Policy Commission meetings in the city over 3-days from 3 to 5 December. SARS Commissioner Kieswetter as the WCO Council Chairperson will oversee the proceedings.

The WCO, originally established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council, includes 186 Customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the preeminent international organisation tasked with enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations worldwide, the WCO plays a critical role in ensuring that global Customs operations are efficient, transparent and secure. The WCO does this by providing leadership, guidance and support to Customs administrations through the development of international standards, fostering international cooperation and building capacity to facilitate legitimate trade, to secure fair revenue collection and protect society.

South Africa has been an active member of the WCO since joining in 1964 and currently forms part of the management team of the WCO East and Southern Africa (ESA) Region, one of the WCO’s 6 Regional Bodies, and SARS hosts one of the WCO ESA’s Regional Training Centre focusing on Organisational Development. South Africa was instrumental in the establishment of the WCO Capacity Building Directorate and has been a key participant in discussions at the WCO on various issues including Customs in the 21st Century Policy Paper (a blueprint for Customs in the future); Globally Networked Customs and the development of the SAFE Framework of Standards.

More than 20 years after first hosting it, next week will be the second time for South Africa to host the Policy Commission. The hosting of the 91st Session comes at a critical time as the global trade landscape evolves with the rise in digital trade, growing sustainability demands and calls for the modernisation of Customs systems increases. Effective and efficient customs administration and trade facilitation are key to minimising trade barriers such as tariffs, regulatory delays and inefficiencies. By enhancing supply chain resilience, they ensure that goods and services move efficiently and securely across borders. As a result, modernising customs administration practices reduce transaction costs, boost global competitiveness, and promote sustainable business growth.

The meeting also comes at a time when South Africa assumes the Presidency of the G20 which will coincide with a call for greater attention to revenue mobilisation and building efficient and effective tax and customs administrations which are imperative towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. This becomes even more important considering three-quarters of the WCO members are developing countries and the Policy Commission is tasked with overseeing and guiding the WCO’s technical work that ensures that members can apply modern techniques and technologies, while improving the quality of controls in an international harmonised manner.

A key focus area proposed for the WCO’s 2025 – 2028 Strategic Plan by its members is Technology and Innovation (integrating AI, IoT, machine learning and blockchain into customs operations and processes). It is therefore fitting that South Africa hosts this prestigious meeting at a time when SARS is building a smart modern SARS with unquestionable integrity that is trusted and admired, whilst leveraging on strategic partnerships such as its membership in the WCO.

SARS Commissioner Mr Edward Kieswetter said that “customs play a seminal role in trade facilitation not for its own sake but to extricate people from poverty, hunger and unemployment, which disproportionately affect developing countries. Accordingly, harnessing technology to ensure seamless movement of goods between borders must necessarily result in tangible impact on changing people’s life. The Policy Commission will afford us the opportunity to make that tangible impact.” For further information, please contact SARS at SARSMedia@sars.gov.za.

The opening ceremony of the 91st WCO Policy Commission will be live streamed on SARSTv (YouTube).

Date: 3 December 2024

Time: 09H30 to 10H15 (CAT)

Link: https://youtube.com/live/RnhZm-7P7W0?feature=share

  • 2 December 2024 – A guide and annexures have been developed to assist organisations applying for Income Tax Exemption with the completion of the EI1 form.

The guide and annexures provide the requirements for the completion of the EI1 form and the required supporting documents per category.

To qualify for Income Tax Exemption, the applicable entities are required to register for Income Tax and submit the Application for Exemption from Income Tax (EI1) form.

Applying entities are required to complete the form with the applicable organisations information and provide the required supporting documents.

  • Adjustment to Notification Centre content to allow multiple instances of EMP501 letter; and
  • Correction to pre-submission validation for 3622/3672, 3817/3867 to align with SARS PAYE BRS.
  • 3 December 2024 – The state provides state warehouses for the safekeeping of goods. These are managed by Customs. The purpose of this list of unentered goods is to notify the importer, exporter and any other person that has interest in the goods that the goods have been taken up into the State warehouse and if they remain unentered they will be disposed in accordance with the provisions of the Customs & Excise Act.

See the latest Customs Weekly List of Unentered Goods here.

  • 5 December 2024 – Achieving our Vision 2024 of a smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity that is trusted and admired is of paramount importance. Pivotal to the delivery of our vision are our digital platforms and technology infrastructure. To provide clarity and certainty, make it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their obligations and building public trust and confidence, our technology assets must demonstrate the highest levels of availability, robustness and security.

In accordance with our Vision and Strategic Objectives, which include modernising our systems to provide Digital and Streamlined online services, we are hard at work ensuring that our digital platforms and technology infrastructure are available, robust and secure, by performing regular upgrades, enhancements and maintenance.

Considering the above, SARS Digital platform maintenance are scheduled for:

  • Friday, 06 December 2024 from 18h00 to 23h00,
  • Saturday, 07 December 2024 from 05h00 to 09h00.

During this time, you may experience intermittent service interruption on our eFiling, Tax and Customs Digital Platforms.

Responses (CUSRES messages) to transactions submitted during this time will be delayed, however, arrival and exit management functions are available at land border posts for all released declarations and manifests.

Stakeholders are therefore urged to submit all Goods Declarations (bills of entry) and Road Manifest, especially those deemed priority, by Friday, 06 December 2024 @ 16h00.

NATIONAL TREASURY

SARB

OTO

AuthorLegal and Policy
DivisionLegal and Policy
Keywords
2024 Legal and Policy
5 December 2024
Categories
Legal and Policy
Date5 December 2024