On 08 June 2022, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) through its Customs and Excise National Rapid Response Team seized 11 falsely declared consignments made up of clothing that were presented as shoes with a total prejudice to the fiscus to the value of R3 million.
The Customs team physically examined and inspected the 11 containers and the accompanying documents and found the consignment to be false declarations by two importers. The importers in their declarations to SARS falsely declared them as shoes.
A case of fraud against the importers was registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS), which is undertaking a further and joint investigation with SARS.
The SARS reiterate its warning to the non-compliant traders and clearing agents to desist from the practice of false declarations and an attempt to defraud the state of what is due to the fiscus.
The SARS Commissioner praised the efforts of the Customs officers. He added, “The message to non-compliant traders and clearing agencies must be unequivocal, that in line with our strategic objectives, SARS has and continues to strengthen its detection capacity. It will make it hard and costly for those taxpayers that are wilfully and criminally engaging in non-compliant behaviour.”