28/05/2018
Update: Customs requirements for SA passengers
In the May 23 issue of TNW, it was reported that South African authorities were clamping down on a law that the South African Revenue Service (Sars) introduced in the 1980s but which had not been proactively enforced for decades, thus taking both agents and travellers by surprise.
After this report was published, Sars released a statement on the matter, claiming that there has been confusion in the media about customs requirements for travellers returning to South Africa with personal effects.
The law, which is outlined in the Sars handbook and on its websites, states that travellers need to register their electronic equipment before departing the country if they want to bring it back in, with a DA 65 form stamped and signed by Sars. It applies to all electronics, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and even watches.
According to the statement by Sars, in terms of customs requirements, South African residents travelling abroad are not required to declare their personal effects neither when leaving the country nor upon return. âPersonal effectsâ is defined in legislation as including items such as personal mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and other high-value items forming part of the travellerâs personal possessions when leaving the country.
The statement reads: âBased on these provisions, no traveller can be penalised for not declaring or registering their personal effects upon leaving the country. However, upon return to South Africa, the traveller may be challenged by a customs officer to provide proof of local purchase or ownership. It is within the mandate of the customs officer to establish whether the goods fit the description of ânew or used goods acquired whilst abroadâ, which would have a duty implication and, if not declared, also a penalty implication.â
It continues, âThe proof referred to above may be in the form of an invoice, an insurance record, in the case of a laptop even the content on the laptop, and any other means through which the officer can use his discretionary powers to satisfy that proof.â
After the statement was released, TNW contacted the Sars desks at both OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports and was advised by representatives that the DA 65 needs to be completed and stamped in order to avoid paying any kind of duty on electronics on return, even though this goes against Sarsâ statement. On Open Jaw, Travelinfoâs collaborative platform, agents say they too have contacted the Sars desks and have been told the same thing. Some agents have even had clients recently incur fines for not being able to present a filled-out DA 65 form for their personal electronics on return.
Below is where travellers can get a DA 65 form at the various airports:
⢠Cape Town International Airport: Located on the Departures level, if facing the check-in desks and security, turn left at the top of the escalators and walk toward the airline ticketing counters. The customs desk is round the corner from the VAT declaration desks.
⢠OR Tambo International Airport: Customs is located in Terminal 2 Departures, about half-way along the hallway where all the airline check-in desks are located.
⢠King Shaka International Airport: Customs is located just behind the check-in counters in the International Departures hall.
