You’ll now need a travel pass before departing or entering South Africa

[Cosmik Debris]

I don't have a SA passport. Why would you need to submit any overseas trip details to SARS ?

If you're resident in SA you pay SA tax. More than 183 days outside was tax free. Now the first million is taxed.

 

[RiaX]

Its probably SARS trying to do us a favour because home affairs let people enter via the back door at the airport.

That way SARS can track how many illegal people in SA as well.

illegal people use the international airports ?

 

[Cosmik Debris]

What's next internal Soviet style passports for traveling outside your designated town ?

The dompas is making a comeback.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Prevent people leaving the country with outstanding tax debt

Why? Aren't they coming back?

 

[Cosmik Debris]

I think its more to do with people going in and out on other passports when they have SA passports.

illegal. Paul o'Sullivan got locked up for that. You have to use your SA passport for entry and exit to SA.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Found a much more descriptive article on this..

SARS introducing new ‘travel pass’ for everyone entering or leaving South Africa

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says it will introduce an ‘online traveller declaration system’ that all travellers need to comply with.

businesstech.co.za

So why the need for a form?

SARS has a history of keeping tabs on taxpayers. In mid-September, Tax Consulting SA noted that the taxman can track a person’s flights as part of stricter emigration processes.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Some goods that are required to be declared include things such as:

Products purchased or acquired abroad
Goods remodelled or repaired abroad
Anything prohibited or restricted, or controlled under any law

When departing from South Africa, residents are further required by SARS to register valuables before their trip – this can be done at the customs office in international departures before handing luggage in.

Nothing to do with personal tax.

 

[Nerfherder]

illegal. Paul o'Sullivan got locked up for that. You have to use your SA passport for entry and exit to SA.

Yes, I know that - people still do that though and its incredibly risky.

 

[Mirai]

Looks like we're heading the Soviet route. Gov decides if you may leave or not.

Hopefully someone challenges this in court but what's the chance.

 

[grca]

I expect that not even SARS knows exactly what they want to do with these passes yet. Where are all the rules and limitations spelled out in detail anywhere? I doubt any framework or much legislation exists, which is why there's only speculation and talk in the media. SARS are fishing to see how the public reacts. And that's what makes them dangerous. They should be vehemently rejected by all travelers. Why should anyone bend over willingly for these dictates? Let them try legislate these passes and face all the scrutiny and resistance that they're due in court first.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

I expect that not even SARS knows exactly what they want to do with these passes yet. Where are all the rules and limitations spelled out in detail anywhere? I doubt any framework or much legislation exists, which is why there's only speculation and talk in the media. SARS are fishing to see how the public reacts. And that's what makes them dangerous. They should be vehemently rejected by all travelers. Why should anyone bend over willingly for these dictates? Let them try legislate these passes and face all the scrutiny and resistance that they're due in court first.

The problem with SARS is they hide behind confidentiality. They refuse to divulge the tax affairs of any individual which means there is no transparency on their internal workings and fairness. The tax affairs of all politicians should be accessible to the public as well as those of companies, SOE management, NGO's and charities. Then voters can make up their minds with relevant information.

 

[jambai]

Flood there systems with too much info .they all so incompetent it won’t make a difference . It’s like Dodd frank requirements trying to prevent the next financial crisis . The banks said we will give them so much info they won’t know what to do with it and it won’t add value .

 

[Cosmik Debris]

How is a passport not sufficient?
It's just another income stream. A declaration form to give them an opportunity to tax you on what you take out and nail you for not declaring stuff.

It's to do with your personal income tax, not a customs declaration.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Given that it's nothing to do with customs - i.e. imports, I would assume that yes.
Or are you saying it's not a declaration?

It's a fly pass if your personal tax affairs are in compliance. If not it's a no fly refusal.

 

[MilitantNightElf]

I thought a pasboek was considered racist. Weird that, that is the part of apartheid the ANC wants to bring back.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

I thought a pasboek was considered racist. Weird that, that is the part of apartheid the ANC wants to bring back.

The ANC has slowly brought back aspects of apartheid and introduced aspects of communism. Discriminatory race laws are one apartheid style law. Don't be surprised at passbooks and communist style movement requirements.

 

[grca]

Flood there systems with too much info

I think it's better to flood their systems with the middle finger. Depending on the penalties at least, which I imagine can't be enforced anyway if these passes aren't legislated.

Hate to be a bad citizen, but I hate more supporting a corrupt organisation that exists only to fund a criminal organisation. And criminals love nothing more than sheep for victims who just roll over with fearful obedience.

 

[Bonywasawarrioraway]

They want to tax people for earnings they've made outside the country. This is probably the first step

Precisely. "simplify the movement"..... Pfft, since when is that the purview of SARS?
SARS are all about revenue and the collection thereof. I would not be at all surprised there is a question concerning foreign currency in the application

 

[Swa]

This looks to be along the lines of the Australian and New Zealand passenger arrival cards: you get given one on the incoming flight to fill out, Immigration checks them, then Customs screens you based on your answers and retains the card. Since SARS is responsible for customs in South Africa, this would appear to be purely for Customs purposes, nothing less, nothing more. Calling it a "travel pass" isn't a very clever idea, since this implies something else entirely (as all of the "sky is falling" posts earlier in this thread demonstrate).

Looks like Customs are going to start becoming a lot stricter going forward. Not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion: the last few times I've flown into Jan Smuts International, I could have carried a metric fsckton of cocaine with me through the green channel and no-one would have batted an eyelid: that airport seems to run on an honesty system.

Dude that is something they collect and not something they issue like we used to have so big difference. With SARS handling customs the powers are just too broad and they can refuse to issue it based on any number of reasons. If it was simply about making the current process more efficient they could have just made it electronic. Tacitus stated "The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws". I see this is going the same way as the HA children documentation debacle where they made a complete 180 after the backlash.

 

[surface]

Cause It just takes an arsehole when you land back in south Africa wanting to see the declaration of your laptops and since you have no form charging you customs vat on a "new import"

Both my laptop and sons are +40K each.

I am also very much an anxious person and not doing something as "per requirement" shoots my anxiety through the roof

Never ever been asked to see declaration of laptop, phone or a camera at ORT airport. We travel at least once per year (covid period exception).