SARS Director for Customs & Excise Customs Border Control, Ports of Entry and Compliance has advised stakeholders that it has extended its pilot ePenalty System.
In a letter to the industry the director wrote:
As previously communicated on 27 August 2021, SARS undertook a pilot of its ePenalty system between 1 September 2021 and 30 November 2021.
The pilot focused on the submission of advance loading and arrival cargo reports for imported goods in the sea and air modalities, as well as on export goods in the rail modality. The purpose was to provide cargo reporters with specific details of potential non-compliance on cargo reporting for them to take remedial action before monetary penalties are imposed.
Following the conclusion of the pilot, engagements with affected stakeholders highlighted the need to receive additional ePenalty compliance letters to aid in further identifying potential shortcomings in the reporting of cargo by trade.
SARS is committed to make it easy for traders to comply with their obligations and to work with them to improve their reporting compliance.
As a result, it has been decided to extend the ePenalty pilot to 31 March 2022.
To ensure that correspondence regarding the ePenalty pilot is correctly routed and timeously received, reporters are requested to engage with the Durban (sea modality) and ORTIA (air modality) offices, respectively, to confirm their contact details.
For more information about Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG), please click here: https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/aboutcustoms/reporting-of-conveyances-and-goods/
Sincerely