This page will keep you updated on Customs news:

  • SARS Digital platform upgrades on 23 to 25 January 2026

    Achieving our Vision of a smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity that is trusted and admired is of paramount importance. Pivotal to the delivery of our vision are our digital platforms and technology infrastructure. To provide clarity and certainty, make it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their obligations and building public trust and confidence, our technology assets must demonstrate the highest levels of availability, robustness and security.

    In accordance with our Vision and Strategic Objectives, which include modernising our systems to provide Digital and Streamlined online services, we are hard at work ensuring that our digital platforms and technology infrastructure are available, robust and secure, by performing regular upgrades, enhancements and maintenance.

    Considering the above, SARS Digital platform maintenance is scheduled for:

    Friday, 23 January 2026 from 18h00 to 23h59 and

    Saturday, 24 January 2026 from 20h00 to 23h59 and

    Sunday, 25 January 2026 from 04h00 to 07h00 

    During this time, you may experience intermittent service interruption on our eFiling, e@syFile , Tax and Customs Digital Platforms.

    Responses (CUSRES messages) to transactions submitted during this time may be delayed, however, arrival and exit management functions will be available at land border posts for all released declarations and manifests.

    Stakeholders are therefore urged to submit all Goods Declarations (bills of entry) and Road Manifest, especially those deemed priority, by Friday, 23 January 2026 @ 17h00.

    • 20 January 2026 – 13th Deferment payment at the end of the 2025/2026 financial year

    This letter serves as a reminder to all Customs deferment account holders
    to kindly adhere to the 13th deferment payment requirements, which becomes due by end of the financial year, 31 March 2026.

    For more information see the letter to the external stakeholders.

    • 4 December 2025 – Updated Prohibited and Restricted Imports and Exports list

    The Prohibited and Restricted Imports and Exports list has been updated: Tariff code 9018.50 does not need a letter of Authority from NRCS.

    • 21 November 2025 – Notice – Importers declaring goods under customs code 70707070

    SARS wishes to announce an important change regarding the processing of eCommerce import declarations by SARS. This measure is designed to ensure compliance with customs legislation, prevent misuse of the simplified import process, and support efficient processing at Compliance Centres. Therefore, effective from 18h00 on 20 November 2025, SARS implemented a new automated validation and rejection rule for import declarations submitted by private individuals using Customs Code 70707070. If the cumulative value of imports under this code exceeds R150,000 per calendar year, any further declarations will be automatically rejected.

    Key Points:

      • Private individuals may import goods using Customs Code 70707070 up to a total value of R150,000 per year.
      • Once this threshold is reached, additional declarations under this code will be rejected by the system.
      • The individual must first apply electronically for a formal Customs Code and thereafter submit a new declaration for the affected shipment.

    For more information, see the letter to stakeholders.

    • 11 November 2025 – Calculation of national currencies for the trade agreements:

    • 7 November 2025 – Launch of the 2025 Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg Bridge Time Release Study

      The formal launch of the South Africa and Lesotho Time Release Study (TRS) took place on 6 November 2025, at the Victory Hall in Maseru, Lesotho. This collaborative, cross-border initiative, spearheaded by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL), represents a rigorous diagnostic assessment of trade efficiency along the Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg Bridge corridors. The key finding is a critical paradox: while internal Customs system processing (Mark for Arrival to Mark for Exit) is remarkably swift (averaging eight to 19 minutes), the overall end-to-end time experienced by the trade community is unacceptably excessive (ranging up to two hours). This disparity proves that the primary barriers to trade facilitation are not technological but are rooted in systemic control gaps, procedural non-compliance, and infrastructure deficiencies, necessitating urgent and comprehensive governance reform.

    • 7 August 2025 – Report a Customs Crime 

SARS is providing a platform for our stakeholders and public at large to report any unethical behaviour, corruption or suspicious activity in Customs. In the Customs Integrity Perception Survey, the feedback was that there is no action to the cases reported. So, cases reported here will be monitored to ensure that there is not only action but also feedback to the people who reported.

These reports can relate to any stage in the Customs value chain.

Three days after receipt of the complaint/ report, Customs &E Excise will contact the reporter and give feedback – [email protected].

    • 10 June 2025 – Update your Customs profile to avoid suspension

      In upholding and supporting seamless cross-border trade, SARS requires all Customs and Excise registrants to update their profiles on the Registration, Licensing, and Accreditation (RLA) system. For more information, see the letter to Trade.

    •  30 April 2025 – Upcoming Time Release Studies (TRS) at key border posts

      The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in collaboration with the Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL), will be conducting Time Release Studies (TRS) at selected border posts during May and June 2025. These studies form part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the efficiency of cross-border trade and facilitating legitimate movement of goods and persons.

       The TRS sessions are planned to take place as follows:

    • Maseru Bridge
      • Capacity Building: 05–09 May 2025
      • TRS Execution: 12–16 May 2025
    • Ficksburg Border Post
      • Capacity Building (without WCO handholding): 26–30 May 2025
      • TRS Execution: 02–06 June 2025
    • 20 March 2025 – Intention of the SARS Commissioner to formally withdraw all concessions

      The Commissioner of SARS is aware that certain clients and traders are continuing to operate their businesses and, specifically, certain requirements as outlined in the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (the Act), under the auspices of certain concessions (deviations, agreements, or special allowances) that have been granted in the past by Customs and Excise Offices.

      These practices have been reviewed in the past and it is now the intention of the SARS Commissioner to formally withdraw all concessions on which certain clients are relying on.

      For more information, see the letter to Trade.

    • 19 March 2025 – Invoice details on customs declarations

      Following a period of engagement, development, and testing with industry and technical service providers, SARS requests that trade now include invoice data in all electronic customs declarations submitted to SARS.

      As of 1 April 2025, customs declarations not containing invoice data will have an increased probability of being selected for documentary inspection or audit, and of such declarants being requested to upload invoices as supporting documentation.

      See the letter to Trade.

    • 23 January 2025 – 13th deferment payment at the end of the 2024/2025 financial year

      This letter serves as a reminder to all Customs clients who are deferment account holders to kindly adhere to the 13th deferment payment requirements, which becomes due by end of the financial year, 31 March 2025.

      For more information, see the letter to stakeholders.