Registration, Licensing and Accreditation

For an archive on RLA updates, click here.

What’s New?

  • 7 October 2024 – Customs: new online self-service features for Registration, Licensing and Accreditation

    We have added new features that will make things a lot easier for our Customs traders.

    The new SARS Online Query System (SOQS) features will enable you to:

    The following guides were updated to describe the new process:

    For a complete list of all SOQS features, see Use our Digital Channels webpage.

  • 30 July 2024 – Automation of Customs & Excise bonds

    SARS is enhancing its digital platforms to help traders and taxpayers meet their tax and customs obligations with ease. As part of this modernisation, SARS is automating the management of customs and excise bonds. This includes the introduction of the Guarantee Management Service (GMS) system, which will serve as a comprehensive platform for managing these bonds through eFiling to provide traders and taxpayers with bond-information records. From 26 July 2024, the GMS system will process cases automatically by:
    • Notifying traders and taxpayers of SARS requests, surety receipt and cancellation.
    • Providing taxpayers and traders, upon request, with a list of guarantees/bonds held by SARS. (These will be displayed when a trader selects the “Manage Bonds and Guarantees” menu under the eAccount menu on eFiling.)

For this phase of the implementation, only clients with access to an eAccount on eFiling can view their list of bonds held with SARS. See the steps here.

  • 10 July 2024 – Customs: Delivery and collection of bonds

    As a result of the modernisation of systems and process, the delivery and collection of bonds changed from Alberton to the SARS Head Office in Pretoria with immediate effect.

    The address for the delivery and collection of bonds is:

Revenue Accounting
Block D Ground Floor
Lehae La SARS
299 Bronkhorst Street
Brooklyn
Pretoria

Arrangements for delivery/collection of bonds must be made via the following email address: [email protected].

No more queues, just seamless online query efficiency! 

See the complete list of FAQs at the bottom of this webpage, scroll down.

What is RLA?

Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA), which is part of the New Customs Acts Programme (NCAP), is the new electronic platform for the management of registration/licensing applications. The new electronic registration/licensing process is being implemented under the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act, no 64 of 1964. This will allow for easier transition into the Customs Control and Duty Acts of 2014.

Need help with Registration and Licensing applications?

The DA 185 – Application form – Registration and licensing of Customs and Excise Clients – External Form, the relevant annexes and the supporting documents listed in the application form must be submitted to the nearest Customs office for processing. For more information on the required supporting documents, see Legal Entity – External Standard. The applicant or the applicant’s representative (Public Officer) as per the application form must also provide his / her ID book, proof of address and contact details to the Branch Front End agent. 

  • For enquiries, please send an email to the email address given below, however, do not send applications (DA185) to the email addresses below as they do not capture applications.

  • For enquiries and submissions:

    • If clients are experiencing technical issues to access RLA on eFiling or submitting an application, please call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277.

    • Take note that as from 1 April 2022 the Customs Branch offices are no longer accepting DA185 applications via email.

    • Alternatively, clients can submit applications for a Customs client number in person at the following Customs Branch offices:

      • Alberton: SARS Alberton Campus

      • Cape Town: 22 Hans Strijdom Avenue, Central, Cape Town

      • Durban: Albany House, 61-62 Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Corner of Albany Grove & Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Durban

      • ORTIA: 1st Floor Agents Building, Cargo Section, OR Tambo International Airport

      • Port Elizabeth: SARS Customs Branch, 3 Winston Ntshona Street, Sanlam building, Port Elizabeth.

      • Pretoria: 136 Francis Baard Street, Customs House, Pretoria

  • For assistance on accessing Registration, Licensing and Accreditation on eFiling view our tutorial video on YouTube.

Which supporting documents are required to be uploaded to RLA?

The following documents as proof of address or contact details are required:

  • A municipal account, fixed line telephone or cellular phone account or any other monthly account or statement (for example, if appropriate in the circumstances, a co-operative statement for farmers, medical aid statement, mortgage statement, SABC television licence documents, eToll account, major retail accounts) issued to the applicant that can confirm physical address of the applicant, if the applicant is located in the Republic.
  • A telephone or cellular phone account issued to the applicant to confirm the applicant’s telephone or cellular phone contact details.
  • If the above documents are not in the name of the applicant a commissioned affidavit is required to support the supplied documents.

Pro forma agreements

To access this page in different languages click on the links below:

Related Documents

ASPOA – Authority on Special Power of Attorney by Tax Practitioner – External Form

DA 185 4A10 – Registration Client Type 4A10 – Manufacturer in terms of drawback item 501 00 to 521 00 of Schedule 5 – External Annexure

DA 185 4A12 – Registration Client Type 4A12 – Electricity producer (Chapter VA and section 59A and the rules thereto 54FA 04) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A14 – Registration Client Type 4A14 – Registered still – External Annexure

DA 185 4A15 – Registration Client Type 4A15 – Manufacture of excisable goods solely for own use – External Annexure

DA 185 4A16 – Client Type 4A16 – Non-commercial manufacturer of sugary beverages (Section 59A and Rule 54I 03) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A17 – Registration Client Type 4A17 – Tobacco Leaf Dealer – External Annexure

DA 185 4A18 – Registration Client Type 4A18 – To be in possession and use goods consisting of a mixture which includes marked goods (S37A(9) R37A 12) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A19 – Registration Client Type 4A19 – Supply of aviation kerosene and or aviation spirit (Items 460 05 or 496 00 or 623 11 or 671 01) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A2 – Registration Client Type 4A2 – Exporter (Located or not located in the Republic) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A20 – Registration Client Type 4A20 – Producer of goods not capable of use in any engine (Section 37A(4) and Rule 37A 11) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A21 – Registration Client Type 4A21 – Seller of Eligible Purchases of Distillate Fuel to Diesel Refund Users (Part 3 of Schedule 6) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A22 – Registration Client Type 4A22 – Diesel Refund User under the Diesel Refund Scheme (Part 3 of Schedule 6) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A3 – Registration Client Type 4A3 – Rebate or Refund User (Schedules 3 4 and 6) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A4 – Registration Client Type 4A4 – Manufacturer – External Annexure

DA 185 4A5 – Registration Client Type 4A5 – Special manufacturing warehouse – Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) – External Annexure

DA 185 4A7 – Registration Client Type 4A7 – Producer – External Annexure

DA 185 4A9 – Registration Client Type 4A9 – Non-commercial Manufacturer of Biofuel (Section 37B and Rule 37B 02(a)) – External Annexure

DA 185 4B1 – Licensing Client Type 4B1 – Special Manufacturing Warehouse – External Annexure

DA 185.4B10 – Licensing Client Type 4B10 – Licensing of manufacturing warehouse in CCA – External Form

DA 185.4B11 – Licensing Client Type 4B11 – Distillation of spirits by an agricultural distiller – External Form

DA 185.4B12 – Licensing Client Type 4B12 – To own, possess or keep stills – External Form

DA 185.4B13 – Licensing Client Type 4B13 – To manufacture or import stills for sale or repair stills – External Form

DA 185.4B14 – Licensing Client Type 4B14 – Degrouping depot – External Form

DA 185.4B15 – Licensing Client Type 4B15 – Searcher of or searching for wreck – External Form

DA 185.4B16 – Licensing Client Type 4B16 – Container depot – External Form

DA 185.4B2 – Licensing Client Type 4B2 – Manufacturing warehouse – External Form

DA 185.4B9 – Licensing Client Type 4B9 – Storage warehouse – External Form

DA 185.C – Security particulars – External Form

DA 199.06A – Value of PRCCs Utilised This Quarter – External Account

DA 51 – Internal Administrative Appeal – External Form

DA 52 – Application for ADR – External Form

GEN-ELEC-18-G01 – How to Register for eFiling and Manage Your User Profile – External Guide

SC-CA-02 – Internal Administrative Appeal – External Policy

SC-CF-19 – Registration Licensing and Accreditation – External Policy

SC-CF-19-A01 – Documentary Requirements – External Annexure

SC-CF-19-A02 – Facilities Code List – External Annexure

SC-CF-19-A03 – Exemption from Ad Valorem Excise Licence and Payment – External Annexure

SC-CF-19-A04 – Joint Ad Valorem Excise Licence – External Annexure

SC-CF-26 – Application to Submit Cargo Reports – External Manual

SC-CF-42 – Customs Trader Portal – External Guide

SC-CF-43 – Managed Shared Access Through eFiling – External Guide

SC-CF-50 – Relationship Management on Customs Trader Portal – External Guide

SC-CF-60 – Customs and Excise SOQS – External Guide

SC-CF-60-A01 – Creating a CSV File – External Annexure

SC-CF-60-A02 – APT Manifest CSV Specifications – External Annexure

SPPOA – Special Power of Attorney – External Form

TPPOA – Special Power of Attorney to Tax Practitioner – External Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

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