South African Revenue Service (Sars) has made headway in aligning its strategy with some of the global technology trends highlighted at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Policy Committee Council discussions which took place in Brussels, Belgium in July this year.
Addressing delegates at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders’ Congress 2016 earlier this month, Sars commissioner Tom Moyane said that in an effort to manage e-commerce compliance, Sars would form part of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) E-Commerce Working Group which had been established recently.
He said the council had agreed to create a working group consisting of members, private sector representatives, international organisations and e-commerce operators.
“As part of the working group, Sars is collaborating with a global partner to review the advanced electronic exchange of information and harmonised global implementation approaches,” said Moyane.
He added that the WCO was also supporting enhanced Customs and police cooperation and had developed a diagnostic tool to assess the current level of collaboration and then suggest solutions on how to foster a stronger partnership.
“I am pleased that Sars is already using the WCO handbook and we will develop a proposal – for discussion – on improving cooperation with the South African Police Services (SAPS) border police unit,” Moyane said.
