44% Customs fee on a ring!?

PilgrimToHyperion

PilgrimToHyperion

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Messages
1,105
Reaction score
71
I ordered a ring from the UK because I couldn't get the same thing in SA. Cost R1700. Fed-Ex just phoned me to inform me that there'll be a R700 fee for customs. 20% of the value for customs, 14% vat and another 10% for the variable exchange rate ZAR/BP. That's another R748 extra!

I'm shocked. The SARS website is not too user friendly. http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=166 . Can someone please advise if this is correct?

I'm okay with paying it because the ring is exactly what I want, just didn't plan for so much customs! :(
 
You're looking in the wrong place, It's under Legal & Policy-> Schedules to the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Tariff Book )

http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=2630 Schedule No. 1 Part 1 Section 71.13 on page 753

The rate is 20%
If you can get a EU certificate of origin it's 2.6% but that's got to do with their laws and regulations.
 
I am just glad my fiance' is American so I bought her ring there and I saved 50% on what I would have paid here. You probably still saved a little anyway so don't be so down
 
dj_jyno said:
Why didn't you just have a good jeweller make you the ring you were looking for?
Click to expand...

That's what I did last year. My wife (then fiancee) was happy because it was exactly what she wanted and it didn't cost an arm and a leg.
 
A ring imported to the land of gold and diamonds. Err...Ok. ¡
 
I went to about 20 different jewellers and NONE of them could come up with anything remotely like I wanted. A dark / charcoal coloured ring of very hard material. None of them knew about Zirconium, which is what this ring is made of. After getting gatvol of shop staff that didn't know anything except the usual drivel about whitegold, titatium blah-blah, I went online to find what I wanted. If I could find the same thing locally, or could have it made (and I asked), I would have. I don't like the whole import from overseas thing as I've lost 2-3 parcels already.

Thanks for the feedback though guys!

PS: Here's what I ordered for those of you that's curious : http://www.weddingrings-direct.com/show_product/ZRC-3531/136/1//963
 
ponder said:
You're looking in the wrong place, It's under Legal & Policy-> Schedules to the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Tariff Book )

http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=2630 Schedule No. 1 Part 1 Section 71.13 on page 753

The rate is 20%
If you can get a EU certificate of origin it's 2.6% but that's got to do with their laws and regulations.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the very detailed link!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X