Originals may be demanded for
post-clearance inspection
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS will not demand original invoices in support of cargo clearances at any point of entry into the country, South African Revenue Services (SARS) announced this week.
Facsimile copies of invoices, as well as EDI and e-mail invoices, will, in future, be accepted by all border post customs controllers, provided they are authenticated by a signed certificate that the document is being produced in lieu of the original document.
We have informed the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), SACOB and the S A Shippers Council accordingly, says Gavin Collinet, director of customs and excise.
The announcement brings to an end weeks of anxiety among clearing agents and importers following an advice circulated that original documents would be required in future. It had been pointed out to SARS that if this regulation was implemented, congestion and chaos, with resultant increase in costs, would be applicable in many instances, particularly at the country's major airports.
One of the major problems facing the government officials, however, had been the tampering with invoices which they had experienced, often making it difficult to detect on photo or fax copies. This motivated the call for original invoices to be produced, says Collinet.
It is considered that the best way to combat this practice is for checking officers to be on the lookout for, and to target, suspect invoices and importers, he told FTW.
In these cases checking officers can insist on original invoices being produced and, where appropriate, stop the goods for physical examination.
SARS has now insisted that original invoices be made available for purposes of post-clearance inspection by customs where necessary.
In order to ensure that our policy is in line with that followed by other customs administrations, a study will be made to establish how fax and electronic invoicing are dealt with internationally, after which the present policy will be reviewed, if necessary, says Collinet.
BY LEONARD NEILL
