The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has clarified the rollout of the new South African Traveller Online Declaration System.
SARS announced in mid-October that a new ‘travel pass’ system would be introduced in the country but, at the time, gave little to no detail on the process or to who it applies. This led to widespread confusion among travellers and operators in the travel sector.
In a briefing this week, the taxman clarified what the pass is and how it works.
SARS said that the pass is simply a new way to digitally declare goods, in the same way travellers currently have to do through customs in paper form.
With the new system, a new web-based application will be used to enable travellers entering and leaving the country to pre-declare goods purchased, received or otherwise acquired and pay applicable taxes.
Some goods that are required to be declared include things such as:
- Products purchased or acquired abroad;
- Goods remodelled or repaired abroad;
- Anything prohibited or restricted, or controlled under any law.
The system aims to collect travel information and, in return, grants a traveller pass via email, said SARS.
This new system is planned to be rolled out at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport on 29 November 2022. This will be on a voluntary basis, the tax authority added.
Travellers will still be allowed in South Africa without electronic online declaration. However, the original method of the declaration must then be followed.
