Advance Import Payments

What is the Advance Import Payment Notification?

The Advance Import Payment (AIP) Notification as part of the Advance Payment Notification (APN) project is one of SARS’ Customs Modernisation Programmes which involves a collaboration between SARS, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and authorised dealers in foreign exchange and aimed at combatting illicit financial flows and customs valuation fraud associated with the misuse of advance foreign exchange payments in respect of goods that are to be imported.

What is the purpose of the APN?

Advance payment notifications make it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their tax obligations whilst assisting SARS to detect and make non-compliance hard and costly for those traders and taxpayers who do not comply. The APN process ensures that traders notify SARS of their intention to apply to an authorised dealer for an advance foreign exchange payment for imported goods. This further prevents underpayment of customs duties and taxes, valuation fraud and illicit financial flows related to the importation or non-importation of goods following advance foreign exchange payments.

What are the obligations of importers in respect of APN?

With effect from the 3^rd of December 2021, in terms of the published Rules under sections 59A and 120 of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 for Advance foreign exchange payments, importers have an obligation to notify SARS via eFiling of their intention to apply to an authorised dealer for an advance foreign exchange payment in respect of goods to be imported.

Need more information?

• 9 December 2021 – Updated Frequently Asked Questions

• 3 December 2021 – Customs & Excise Act, 1964

  Amendments to rules under sections 59A and 120 for Advance foreign exchange payments were published: Notice R.1563

• 2 December 2021 – The new AIP Guide and Policy were published:

  •  SC-CC-33 – Submission of Advance Import Payments – External Guide

  • SC-CC-42 – Submission of Advance Import Payments – External Policy

• 2 December 2021 – The Customs Trader Portal for Registration and Licensing of Customs Clients Guide was updated with AIP information:
  • Customs Trader Portal – External Guide
• 2 December 2021 – The SF-CF-55 – Clearance Declaration Policy was updated with AIP information. The importer receives a unique APN reference number assigned by SARS and communicates it to the authorised dealer and inserts it on the Customs Clearance Declaration (CCD) in the additional information field as prescribed in SC-CF-55-A01. See the Annexure  ‘SC-CF-55-A01 – Completion of Declarations  – External Annex.pdf’:

  

• 26 November 2021 – Letter to Trade
• 2 November 2021 – APN (Imports) Presentation to the Industry

Need help?

For queries and more information, kindly email the Balance of Audit Payment team on [email protected].