Sars will use e-filing for re-registration under new ledislation

Industry and the South
African Revenue Service
have come a long way when
it comes to the new customs
acts, with the first phase to be
implemented in August next
year.
The bulk of the legislation,
which has been the centre of
controversy the past few years,
will however only come into
effect in 2017 at the earliest.
According to Clifford
Evans, airfreight executive
of the SA Association of
Freight Forwarders Western
Cape Chapter, industry has
officially been given notice
by Sars that the first phase
of implementation under the
new legislation - the licensing
and registration process - will
start in August 2016.
“There has been some
concern over this process
from industry, but Sars has
assured us that it will be an
electronic process and that
whilst everyone will have to
be re-registered it will be done
via efiling and will be a far
less complex process than is
currently the case.”
It is believed the current
status is that there is about
40% system readiness at Sars
to accommodate the new
customs acts, but the systems
changes involving the new
registration process are on
track for August next year.
Sars spokesman Sandile
Memela confirmed the
August date saying the
revenue service was working
closely with industry to
ensure that there was a sense
of ownership and belonging
around the new legislation.
Evans told the Exporters
Club Western Cape that
much of industry’s suggested
changes to the draft rules
and regulations guiding the
new acts had been accepted
by Sars and that there was a
partnership approach.
“It is extremely positive
and Sars has really engaged
with industry in an effort
to understand our concerns
and there is a definite effort
to address the challenges we
have highlighted,” he said.
Memela said Sars officials
were encouraged by the
positive developments
that had seen the industry
adopting a more positive
outlook to the new legislation.
“It proves that working
together we can achieve
more,” he said. “As Sars
we believe in constructive
engagement with our
stakeholders. It will always be
important for us to consult
and engage to ensure that we
work towards the same goals.
The interactive workshops
have played a valuable role in
this regard.”
He said in light of the
registration process starting
in August it was essential to
ensure top of mind awareness
around the new legislation
with special emphasis on the
deadlines.
“Every relevant stakeholder
needs to know that the
registration and licensing
process will start during
the second half of 2016. We
will be engaging clients to
prepare for this process,”
said Memela. “For us to
hit the ground running as
anticipated, we have to lay a
solid foundation. It is for this
reason that we are working
together to consolidate our
gains to spread mutual
understanding and deeper
knowledge. It is hoped that
we will all be in a state of
readiness when the time for
implementation arrives. In
the meantime, we all have to
close all the possible gaps to
ensure that implementation
does not impact negatively
on the economy and the flow
of trade. Unavoidably, the
system development will take
a phased approach but the
legislation will be become
effective on a specified date in
the future.”