THE South African Revenue Service (SARS) says no traveller can be penalised for not declaring or registering their personal effects upon leaving the country. The revenue service said there was confusion about Custom requirements for travellers returning to South Africa with personal valuables.
The press statement by the tax collector comes after a widely shared letter written by a disgruntled South African traveler in which he said he was made to pay R1 500 to bring my own laptop back into the country.
In terms of Customs legislation, South African residents travelling abroad are not required to declare their personal effects when leaving the country, nor upon return. ‘Personal effects’ are defined in legislation as including items such as personal laptops, iPads, cell phones, golf clubs, cameras and/or other high value items forming part of the traveller’s possessions when leaving the country.
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In a statement SARS said “Based 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 ‘New or Used goods acquired whilst abroad’ which would have a duty implication and, if not declared, also a penalty implication.”
The proof may be in the form of an invoice, an insurance record, in the case of a laptop even the content on the laptop.
SARS said there are alternatives to providing such proof, adding that that is where the confusion comes.
“The alternative is a process created within the policy framework called ‘Registration for Re-importation’. This is not on a DA65 as many media articles have referred to lately. The DA65 was phased out for travellers many years ago and today it is only used within the commercial cargo environment, for example where goods are temporarily exported for repair abroad.”
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SARSA added that a new, more user-friendly and secure process was created to replace the DA65.
“The new process enables the traveller to complete a TC-01 (Traveller Card) notifying his or her intent to register goods for re-importation. This is presented to the Customs Officer who will then capture this online on a Traveller declaration system (TRD1). The traveller authenticates the declaration by signing on a digital signature pad. A copy is printed for the traveller to retain as proof of registration,” added SARS.
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