Surety amounts decentralised ALAN PEAT THE UPDATED customs’ external deferment policy has now been in place for over six weeks – and has certain changes which readers should be aware of, according to trade consultants, Deloitte. In addition to the twelve regular payment dates chosen, FTW was told, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) has introduced a thirteenth payment date in March to allow all outstanding deferments to be reconciled before financial year end. Decentralisation As part of Sars’ restructuring, the surety amounts have now been decentralised and are now determined by the zonal financial management team in each of the centres where customs is located, and not by Pretoria’s debt management team. Initial applications have to be made using the DA 650 form, which is available from each of customs’ branch offices or from the Sars website. Along with this form, the applicant must include proof of financial income (for three years); audited financial statements; copies of directors’ or members’ ID documents; board resolutions or consent (where applicable); a certificate of incorporation; proof of physical address (a municipal bill will suffice); the company or applicant’s tax number; VAT registration number; details of accountant; proof of previous Sars transactions for at least a year (if applicable); and the company’s customs code number. Sars then conducts a risk assessment, and - once a participant’s application and signed guarantee have been approved – a certificate of approval (now a DA 652 form) will be issued. Any changes to the agreed-upon deferment dates or decreases in the surety amounts need to be made using the DA 651A form. “Appeals procedures have been included,” Deloitte added. “The participant has to follow an appeals process by first appealing through the branch manager, then to commercial services and lastly through to the appeals committee.” Shipment register Participants need to maintain a register of all shipments accepted under the deferment scheme, and a statement of deferred payments must be prepared to reconcile the total amount payable to that of the respective office. For these, templates are provided on the Sars website. The forms which have been replaced in the upgraded policy are the DA 57 (request to defer payment of revenue due to customs); the DA 57.01 (request to defer payment of Vat and payslip); and the DA 58 (settlement of deferred payment of revenue due).
