South Africa

On 23 October 2026, SARS Customs released updated user guides for the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS), a digital platform designed to streamline traveller declarations and enhance border compliance. The SATMS allows international travellers to declare goods, currency, and other dutiable items electronically before arrival, reducing processing times at ports of entry. The updated

On 23 October 2026, the SARS Legal Counsel division published Issue 4 of the Guide on Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAP) under the Income Tax Act, 1962. This guide provides authoritative guidance on the resolution of international tax disputes arising from the application of South Africa’s double tax agreements (DTAs). The MAP process enables taxpayers to

On 23 October 2026, SARS issued the October 2026 edition of the Tax Practitioner Connect newsletter, the primary communication vehicle for registered tax practitioners. This edition aligns closely with the Government Connect release, covering the latest e@syFile employer updates and the new eFiling profile unmerging functionality. It also addresses practitioner-specific concerns, including the renewal of

On 23 October 2026, SARS released the October 2026 edition of the SMME Connect newsletter, a dedicated communication channel for small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). This edition highlights SARS’s ongoing efforts to bring tax education closer to small businesses through strategic partnerships with industry associations, municipal bodies, and digital platforms. The newsletter serves as

On 23 October 2026, SARS published the October 2026 issue of the Government Connect newsletter, targeting government departments, entities, and public sector employers. This edition focuses on key system updates affecting payroll tax administration, specifically the latest e@syFile release and a new eFiling process for unmerging taxpayer profiles. These enhancements are part of SARS’s broader

Effective 16 October 2026, SARS has enhanced the Manual Letter of Compliance (MLOC) issued to resident trusts. The MLOC is a critical document confirming a trust’s tax compliance status, often required by financial institutions, the Master of the High Court, and other regulatory bodies. The enhanced MLOC now includes a mandatory requirement for the resident

On 22 October 2026, SARS announced scheduled upgrades to its digital platforms, including eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, the Online Query System (SOQS), and the e@syFile employer portal, to take place on 24 October 2026. The upgrades are part of SARS’s strategic vision to become a “smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity.” The maintenance window is

On 22 October 2026, SARS Customs published an updated version of the Prohibited and Restricted Imports and Exports list, a regulatory instrument controlling the movement of specific goods across South African borders. The update introduces export control measures administered by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) for tariff subheading 2530.90 (mineral substances not elsewhere specified).

On 12 October 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published its latest Customs Weekly List of Unentered Goods, a critical compliance tool for importers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers operating in South Africa. Under the Customs and Excise Act, goods that remain unentered for home consumption, warehousing, or transit within the prescribed periods are

Effective 9 October 2026, SARS has updated the facility codes used in Box 30 of the Goods Declaration (DA 550/Bill of Entry) as part of its ongoing Customs Registration, Licensing, and Accreditation modernization. The amendment introduces new multi-purpose facility codes designed to streamline the classification of customs-controlled areas, including bonded warehouses, special economic zones, and