The Acting Executive: Customs & Excise Centre of Excellence of Sars on 12 March told external stakeholders the implementation date for amended rules for Registration and Licensing and the New Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) System.
According to the letter the amended rules under Sections 8, 59A and 60 of the Act, 1964, as well as the electronic system providing for such changes, will be implemented from 20 April.
The RLA system is being developed in phases, and implementation of Release 1 of the system will comprise a roll-out on eFiling as well as at Customs offices, where Branch Front End (BFE) capturing of applications by officers will take place.
The RLA system is an electronic platform for the submission of new registration and licensing applications. Release 1, which will be rolled out on 20 April, caters for electronic submission of the following applications:
Registration
- Submitting reporting documents for purposes of the rules under Section 8 of the Act, 1964.
- Importing or exporting goods.
- Exporting goods for purposes of preferential tariff treatment in terms of international trade agreements or non-reciprocal Generalized Systems of Preference (GSP).
- Representing importers, exporters removers in bond or searchers for or of wrecks that are not located in South Africa as registered agents.
- Representing ‘carriers’ for purposes of the rules under Section 8 of the Act, 1964 that are not located in South Africa, as registered agents for purposes of submitting reporting documents.
Licensing:
- Acting as a clearing agent.
- Operating as a remover in bond.
Applications not yet catered for electronically must still be submitted in paper format at a Customs and Excise office. Please take note that none of the excise applications are catered for electronically yet.
Clients wishing to submit applications on the new system are encouraged to register for eFiling in the meantime (if not already registered).
According to Sars, there are many benefits to using eFiling, including time and cost savings, convenience, security and minimising duplication of information and documentation submitted.
Story by: Riaan de Lange