Refund or Drawback of Duty Rule - Comment due
On 10 April 2019, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published the draft amendment to Note 8 of Schedule No.5 to the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 “Specific Drawbacks and Refunds of Customs Duties, Fuel Levy and Environmental Levy”, on which comment is due by 10 May 2019. The draft amendment provides for circumstances where a refund or drawback of the duty as contemplated in Section 75(1)(c), 54D, or 54J of the Act, 1964 may be granted if the customs procedure code (CPC) applicable to the export as specified in the list published on the SARS website referred to in Rule 00.06 and the Refund Item or Drawback Item are not reflected on the export Bill of Entry (BOE) or other export clearance declaration.
Refunds and Drawbacks External Policy
SARS released its ‘Customs External Policy Refunds and Drawbacks’, effective from 29 March 2019. According to the Policy, SARS provides for the refund and drawback of duties and taxes on goods, and allows clients to apply for a refund within a timeperiod prescribed within Sections 75 and 76 read together with Section 76B of the Act, 1964.
Clearance Declaration External Policy
SARS released its ‘Customs External Policy Clearance Declaration’, effective from 29 March 2019. According to the Policy, SARS provides for importers and exporters and their clearing or registered agents must be registered or licensed as prescribed, before submitting a Customs Clearance Declaration (CCD). Every importer or exporter of goods must lodge a CCD when goods are
imported into or exported from South Africa, except when exempted by Rule.
Scanner Operations External Policy
SARS released its ‘Customs External Policy Scanner Operations’, effective from 29 March 2019. According to the Policy, the use of nonintrusive equipment such as x-ray scanners is one of the permitted physical inspection options Customs may use to examine goods.
Incoterms®2020
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced that the release of Incoterms®2020, effective from 01 January 2020, is due shortly. The ICC’s world-renowned Incoterms© rules facilitate trillions of dollars in global trade each year. The rules provide specific guidance to individuals participating in the import and export of global trade on a daily basis.
4th Working Group RKC
The fourth meeting of the WCO Working Group on the Comprehensive Review of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) was held at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels from 03 to 05 April 2019. The next meeting is scheduled for 03 to 06 June 2019. The International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs procedures, commonly known as the RKC, promotes trade facilitation and effective controls through its legal provisions that detail the application of simple efficient procedures.
