SARS Issues Compliance Notice on Traveller Declarations and Third-Party Fees

Posted 12 November 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Customs & Excise

Brought to you by SAnews: The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a compliance advisory clarifying that digital Traveller Declarations required under the Customs and Excise Act, No. 91 of 1964 must be submitted through official SARS channels free of charge, warning taxpayers against paying unnecessary fees to unaffiliated commercial intermediaries.

Under SARS’s ongoing Customs modernisation framework, travellers entering or leaving the Republic via air, land, sea, and rail ports of entry are required to submit an online declaration prior to travel to declare personal effects, commercial merchandise, and currency in their possession, subject to prescribed statutory exceptions.

SARS noted that independent third-party operators have been charging travellers service fees to complete and submit these declarations. The revenue authority confirmed that these commercial entities possess no official affiliation or accreditation with SARS, and their charges do not constitute statutory customs fees or administrative tariffs.

Approved Submission Platforms

To avoid unmandated compliance costs, travellers must submit declarations directly using the following authorised, cost-free digital interfaces:

  • The official SARS online portal;
  • The dedicated South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) application; or
  • The integrated Traveller Declaration function accessible via the SARS MobiApp.

Submitting declarations via these electronic channels is designed to streamline border clearance, standardise compliance risk profiling, and ensure real-time reporting of cross-border goods and currency movements.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: When travelling cross-border, complete and submit your declaration directly via the SATMS App or official SARS portal before transit at no charge, ensuring accurate disclosure of restricted goods and currency.
  • For your business: Update internal corporate travel and expense policies to mandate that employees submit cross-border declarations exclusively via official SARS digital platforms, eliminating unapproved intermediary expenses.
  • For your clients: Advise cross-border executive travellers and expatriate personnel to file their SATMS electronic disclosures directly with SARS prior to port-of-entry arrival to prevent border clearance delays and avoid non-statutory third-party fees.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/sars-urges-travellers-submit-traveller-declarations-through-its-official-channels

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