You are the “importer of record” when buying from Amazon

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You are the “importer of record” when buying from Amazon

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has taken a stricter approach to clauses in the Customs and Excise Act relating to personal imports in 2018.

According to reports from TimesLive, SARS confirmed that citizens who bring in more than three import consignments per year will need to apply for an importer’s code.
 
xrapidx said:
South African government on a mission to make every aspect of life as difficult as possible.
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SARS is desperate to suck tax from every available line and consequently stifling small-time or personal importers of goods. It has stopped me personally from buying things and importing due to this policy.
 
Everyone just register as an importer - it's not hard - let's see SARS handle that workflow :laugh:
I did it, took 2 visits and was submitted on the same day - paperwork was approved within 10 days. Not difficult at all.

What I want to know is how do you tell Amazon your details so that they can furnish SARS with the correct documentation from the start including commercial invoice?
 
SARS confirmed that citizens who bring in more than three import consignments per year will need to apply for an importer’s code.
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Ok, so since I'm not a citizen I don't have to worry?
 
I ordered a bunch of stuff, some of it has arrived and some hasnt. It all totals up to 5 packages from Aliexpress.
I do not have a business so what am I supposed to do? From what I've seen you need to have a business in order to be an importer.
Am I incorrect?
 
So how much does the bribe cost? I mean, service fee?

bwana said:
Ok, so since I'm not a citizen I don't have to worry?
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You probably have to do something stupid like register as a Foreign Importer. They won't let you escape that easily.
 
Ancalagon said:
You probably have to do something stupid like register as a Foreign Importer. They won't let you escape that easily.
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So does everyone in the household get three imports per year before they have to register?
 
Why isn't it limited to the total value in a calendar year? (poor logic! or am I missing something?)

I definitely don't support burning buildings etc. but I can see someone burning a SARS building if their package get stuck in customs because of this ill conceived policy.
 
Okay we've seen a lot of these posts and articles now but the one thing that is still unclear as to why we need an importers code for such a low quantity? I'm still paying my import duties and VAT so why is it necessary to have a specific importers code?

Maybe there is some really good reason but I cannot think of what it might be.
 
So, according to SARS, importing three items worth $10 each is the same from a regulatory standpoint as importing three items worth $10 000 each? Makes perfect sense, as usual.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Okay we've seen a lot of these posts and articles now but the one thing that is still unclear as to why we need an importers code for such a low quantity? I'm still paying my import duties and VAT so why is it necessary to have a specific importers code?

Maybe there is some really good reason but I cannot think of what it might be.
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Maybe they're trying to discourage importing of goods? I import because,
1) the product isn't available locally
2) can't be sourced locally at a reasonable price
3) even online, products from amazon sometimes arrive before an imported item (even with aramex's incompetence factored in)
 
Jack Marlow said:
Everyone just register as an importer - it's not hard - let's see SARS handle that workflow :laugh:
I did it, took 2 visits and was submitted on the same day - paperwork was approved within 10 days. Not difficult at all.
Click to expand...

What are the basic requirements? Is the process outlined anywhere? I haven't searched, was hoping to benefit from your first hand experience.
 
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