Dear Valued Client
SARS is becoming increasingly strict regarding the Penalty System, and it is vital that commercial invoices submitted for import shipments comply with the following:
- Must read “Commercial Invoice” – cannot be pro-forma.
- There must be a unique invoice number.
- Must be in English.
- Goods description must be sufficient to classify HS codes correctly.
- The Incoterm must be stated.
- Freight breakdown to reflect on invoice, else SARS will use full value on invoice which results in higher vat and duty payments.
The financial penalties for non-compliance are quite severe and we strongly urge all clients who import goods on CFR, CIF, DAP and DDP terms to ensure compliance. Please refer to the attached Contravention List for penalty breakdown.
Please reach out to your local SCT representative should you have any questions in this regard.