What’s New?
- 2 June 2023 –SMME Traders Connect Newsletter
The launch edition of the SMME Traders Connect Newsletter is now available. This will be a quarterly publication which focuses on trader-related tax matters to create awareness and share relevant information to make it easier for traders to remain compliant. In this edition we provide clarity and certainty for taxpayers and traders of their tax obligations, making it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their tax obligations. 12 May 2023 – Webinar on the SARS Administered Incentives
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) held a webinar on 10 March 2023 to engage Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) about various domestic and cross border incentives available to help them grow their businesses. The webinar also touched on revenue compliance obligations and helped Traders understand their responsibilities before the SARS financial year end.
If you missed the webinar you can view the presentation by clicking here.
1 November 2022 – Update on the RLA roadshows
SARS is conducting roadshows in the regions to assist traders to onboard onto the electronic Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) eFiling system. Onboarding to the RLA system will reduce manual processing that would, at times, cause delays. The regional roadshows will provide traders the opportunity to have physical interactions with SARS’ Registration, Licensing and Accreditation officers, who will support traders to activate their eFiling profiles and navigate the RLA eFiling system by submitting an application themselves.
Traders in the Free State are now invited to visit the SARS Maseru office any day from 14 – 18 November 2022. Slots are daily from 9:00 – 10:00, 11:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:00. This will be the last leg of regional roadshows for 2022, and traders are encouraged to continue using the self-registration option on eFiling.
Venue:
SARS Maseru Bridge Boardroom
N12 Road
Ladybrand
Free State
20 October 2022 – Media Release: SARS takes a further step toward implementing Smart Borders
Travellers are required by law to make certain declarations of goods and cash on entering or leaving South Africa. The declaration process is in line with practices around the world and in compliance with the provision of the Customs and Excise Act No. 91 of 1964 which makes it mandatory for any person entering and leaving the Republic to declare any goods in their possession.
During November 2022, SARS will launch a pilot implementation of an electronic online portal for travellers to make declarations on a voluntary basis, well ahead of their arrival or departure to/from South Africa. This pilot will initially be implemented at the King Shaka International Airport. The new system will allow travellers to pre-declare goods purchased, received, or otherwise acquired. For travellers who choose not to use the on-line portal on their mobile devices, SARS will make available a paper form as well self-service counters at our terminals. A number of our Customs Officers will also have hand-held devices to assist travelers, and facilitate passage. Travellers will be permitted to continue to use the travellers card if they so choose.
- 19 October 2022 – Update on the RLA roadshows
SARS is conducting roadshows in the regions to assist traders to onboard onto the electronic Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) eFiling system. Onboarding to the RLA system will lessen manual processing that would, at times, cause delays. The regional roadshows will provide traders the opportunity to have physical interactions with SARS’ Registration, Licensing and Accreditation officers, who will support traders to activate their eFiling profiles and navigate the RLA eFiling system by submitting an application themselves.
Traders in KwaZulu-Natal are now invited to visit the SARS Durban offices on any day from 17 – 28 October 2022. Slots are daily 9:00 – 10:00, 11:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:00.
Venue:
- PC Room 1
- 201 Dr Pixley Kaseme Street
- Trescon Building – 2nd Floor
- Durban
- -29.85768, 31.02905
No parking facilities at Trescon Building. Delegates may utilise the pay parkade, Liberty Building which is opposite the SARS Building.
3 October 2022 – Update on RLA roadshows
SARS is conducting roadshows in the regions to assist traders to onboard onto the electronic Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) eFiling system. Onboarding to the RLA system will lessen manual processing that would, at times, cause delays. The regional roadshows will provide traders the opportunity to have physical interactions with SARS’ Registration, Licensing and Accreditation officers, who will support traders to activate their eFiling profiles and navigate the RLA eFiling system by submitting an application themselves. While the regional roadshows commenced in Gauteng on 6 September 2002, traders in Gauteng are now invited to visit the SARS Doringkloof office or SARS Alberton office for assistance:Dates: 3 – 7 October
Venue:
PEO PC Room
07 Protea Street
Block C, Ground Floor
Doringkloof
0157
Dates: 10 – 14 October
Venue:
New Redruth Mall
SARS Alberton Campus Boardroom
Corner Austell & Camborne Street
SARS Next to N12
23 September 2022 – Upcoming RLA onboarding roadshows
SARS is conducting roadshows in the regions to assist traders to onboard onto the electronic Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) eFiling system. Onboarding to the RLA system will lessen manual processing that would, at times, come with delays. The regional roadshows will provide traders the opportunity to have physical interactions with SARS’ Registration, Licensing and Accreditation officers, who will show them how the registration and licensing is done, as well as how to navigate the system. The Regional Roadshows commenced on the 6th September 2002.Traders in the Eastern Cape are encouraged to take advantage of the next leg of the roadshows:
- Port Elizabeth sessions are from 26 – 30 September 2022 at our Port Elizabeth offices, SARS Customs Branch, 3 Winston Ntshona Street, Central Port Elizabeth and
- East London sessions are from 26 – 30 September 2022 at our East London offices, Customs Boardroom, Table Mountain, 36 Phillip Frame Road, Waverly Park, Chistelhurst, East London.
- 16 September 2022 – Registration Licensing and Accreditation onboarding roadshows
SARS is conducting roadshows in the regions to assist traders to onboard onto the electronic Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) eFiling system. Onboarding to the RLA system will lessen manual processing that would, at times, come with delays.
The regional roadshows will provide traders the opportunity to have physical interactions with SARS’ Registration, Licensing and Accreditation officers, who will show them how the registration and licensing is done, as well as how to navigate the system. The Roadshow began at Alberton Campus between 6 and 9 September 2022 and has now moved to the Cape Town branch office between 11 and 22 September 2022. More roadshow venues and dates will be announced through SARS’ communication channels.
- 28 June 2022 – Recognising Young SMMEs
The month of June is special to us in that it celebrates youth and the Small Medium and Macro Enterprises (SMMEs), which are both important for the future of our country. This year we celebrated the youth month under the theme of Promoting sustainable livelihood and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow.
Since 2017, the global community has observed SMME Day on the 27th of June each year. The significance of this day is to raise public awareness of the SMME’s role in creating a more equitable and sustainable global economy. The United Nations (UN) has directed the focus for this year’s commemoration to be on resilience and rebuilding SMMEs following the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, and conflicts have had on the economy.
Small businesses are the backbone of economies. They account for 70% of businesses providing jobs to more than 50% of the population around the world. We join hands with the global community to observe the importance of International SMME Day and support the growth of SMMEs in South Africa. According to the survey, insights from the International Trade Centre indicate that there is a need to focus on four priority areas to scale up support to SMME’s. The areas identified are around women, youth, digital as well as green initiatives. These are key to creating a wave of “good trade” that is truly inclusive, diversified, and sustainable
- 16 May 2022 – Focus groups with Traders and Clearing Agents
The SMME Traders and Travellers segment is currently busy with ongoing research on Educational needs or preferences as well as research on understanding the Customs and Excise Policies, Legislation and Incentives. Surveys were rolled out for both these research areas and we are currently in the process of conducting focus group discussions on the latter research with Traders and Clearing Agents who were willing to meet virtually and give more details. The purpose of these sessions are to engage our SMME traders to help SARS assess the effectiveness of the current Customs and Excise Legislation, External Policies, and Incentives Measures.
From the SMME Traders and Travellers sub-segment, we would like to thank all traders that have participated so far in this research. Your valuable inputs will help us to provide clarity and certainty and making it easy for SMME, Traders and Travellers to comply.
6 April 2022 – Easter Season message for travellers
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.
- 25 March 2022 – Excise Guide for Small Businesses
7 March 2022 – SMME Traders and Travellers survey on the effectiveness of Customs and Excise Policy, Legislation and Incentives
The SMME Traders and Travellers team currently has a survey on the effectiveness of Customs and Excise Policy, Legislation and Incentives and it will be running till 8 March 2022. If you have received the survey link, you are encouraged to participate in this survey as it is totally anonymous and will assist us to show your understanding of our current policies, legislation and incentives. Our aim is to make it easier for our SMME traders to comply with Customs and Excise requirements. Those traders who indicated that they would be interested in focus group discussions, should expect an invite from SMME Traders and Travellers team to participate in those discussion within the near future.
17 February 2022 – Webinar on Corporate Income Tax and Provisional Tax obligations for Small Businesses
If you have missed the webinar you may view the video on the SARS YouTube channel – https://youtu.be/ac1QEb19Zc8.
- 9 February 2022 – Frequently Asked Questions for Traders and Travellers
See our newly published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) aimed to assist Traders and Travellers in their day-to-day work.
Introduction
This page is dedicated to Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) Traders and Traders. The SMME Traders and Travellers is a Division in SARS that represents the needs and interests of this sub-segment in the Customs and Excise environments. This will be done through:
- Providing Clarity and Certainty to the Traders and Travellers
- Making it easy for Traders and Travellers to comply
- Detecting and deterring Traders and Travellers who do not comply
- Working with and through Stakeholders to improve the tax ecosystem.
The purpose of this page is to share current and upcoming work being done to achieve the above mandates.
Webinars
SARS hosted a Registration, Licensing & Accreditation (RLA) webinar with the theme of the onboarding of all existing Customs clients including cargo reporters (RCG). If you have missed the webinar, see the recorded session here or see the presentation: RLA – Onboarding of Customs Clients.
For the latest webinar invitation and a list of all past webinars, see the Taxpayer and Trader Education webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Outreach Activities
On the 1st Feb 2022, the SMME Traders and Travellers Team were invited to do a presentation at a Webinar hosted by SEDA aimed at developing and generating export-ready small enterprises that can be globally competitive and able to grow their markets both locally and internationally. SARS prepared a presentation under the theme Export Compliance Awareness with the aim of enhancing knowledge that can promote better Trade Facilitation.
Useful documents
As part of providing clarity and certainty to Traders and Travellers in order to make it easy for them to meet their compliance requirements as well as their tax obligations, below leaflets where designed. The leaflets contains essential information for Travellers about what their duty free and flat rate allowances is. It also informs Traders about their Exemptions and the types of duties/levies payable. The leaflets gives Traders and Travellers information about goods that they can bring under controlled circumstances and those that they are not allowed to bring at all.
