On 24 May Sars issued a media release to clarify the confusion around Customs requirements for South African residents returning to South Africa with personal valuables.
In terms of Customs legislation, South African residents are not required to declare their personal effects when leaving or returning to South Africa.
Accordingly, no South African can be penalised for not declaring or registering their personal effects upon leaving the country. However, upon return the South African resident 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 customs duty implication and, if not declared, also a penalty implication.
A more secure process has been created where the South African resident completes a Traveller Card (TC-01) notifying his/her intent to register goods for re-importation. The card is presented to the customs officer who will then capture this on the Traveller Declaration System (TRD1). The South African resident authenticates the declaration by signing on a digital signature pad, and a printed copy is retained as proof of registration.