One customs error can cost more than the shipment.
SARS customs compliance is not a formality. The financial and operational consequences of errors — deliberate or not — are significant and long-lasting.
Wrong HS code
Wrong duty rate applied. SARS can raise a post-entry assessment with interest dating back to the original entry. Penalty up to 200% of the duty shortfall.
Missing permits
Cargo held at the port by SARS, ITAC or DAFF. Every day it sits, demurrage accrues. Permits can take weeks to obtain after the fact.
Incorrect customs value
SARS uses the transaction value method. Under-declared value triggers penalties and can flag your company for routine audit on future shipments.
Late filing
Interest charged at the prevailing SARS rate on outstanding duties. Repeated late entries can result in suspension of your customs client code.
The full scope of our customs brokerage.
Every aspect of customs compliance for South African importers and exporters — handled by our in-house team, not outsourced.
HS code classification
Every imported or exported product gets the correct Harmonised System tariff heading. Wrong codes mean wrong duty rates, SARS audit risk and potential penalties. We don't guess — we classify.
Bills of Entry
Import (DA 306) and export (DA 550) entries prepared, reviewed and submitted via EDI. Every entry is checked before submission — not corrected after SARS raises a query.
SARS EDI submissions
Electronic filing directly with SARS Customs through our registered EDI channel. Fast assessment turnaround, correct the first time, no manual re-submissions.
Duty optimisation & rebates
We check every applicable rebate, concession and trade agreement preference before filing. Schedule 3, 4 and 5 rebates, AGOA, SADC and EU-SA FTA preferences applied where your goods qualify.
Permits & import control
ITAC import permits, DAFF phytosanitary clearances, NRCS letters of authority, SAHPRA approvals — identified upfront and resolved before the cargo arrives at the port.
Export documentation
Commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin and SARS export entries. FTA preference certificates issued where trade agreements reduce duty for your buyer.
Every body that touches your import or export.
South African customs compliance spans multiple government authorities. We know what each one requires and handle the engagement on your behalf.
The primary customs authority. Governs all import and export entries, tariff classification, duty collection and compliance enforcement.
Issues import and export permits for controlled and restricted goods — including certain steel, textiles, chemicals and agricultural products.
Foreign exchange control authority. Advance payment notifications, import permits for exchange control purposes and ADP compliance.
Phytosanitary certificates, plant and animal product import permits. Non-compliance means goods destroyed at the port of entry.
Letters of Authority (LOA) for goods subject to compulsory national standards — electrical equipment, toys, PPE, building materials.
Licensing and import permits for medicines, medical devices and complementary health products.
How we clear every shipment.
No shortcuts. No assumptions. Every entry follows the same rigorous process whether it's your first shipment or your five-hundredth.
Document review
Commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading or Airway Bill reviewed for accuracy and completeness before we file anything.
HS classification & duty calculation
Correct tariff heading confirmed. All applicable duties, VAT, levies and rebates calculated and presented to you before the entry is lodged.
Permits & compliance check
Any ITAC, DAFF, NRCS or SAHPRA requirements identified upfront. We flag these before cargo departs origin — not when it's already at the port.
SARS EDI submission
Entry lodged via EDI. We monitor assessment status and respond to any SARS queries without waiting for you to chase.
Goods released
Release instruction issued to the terminal or warehouse once SARS assessment is complete and duties are settled.
Post-entry & recordkeeping
All documentation filed and retained. Post-entry corrections handled if SARS raises a subsequent query. Five-year record retention as required by SARS.
Customs clearance that doesn't create its own problems.
Most customs issues aren't random — they're predictable. Wrong codes, missing permits, late submissions. Our job is to make sure none of those happen on your shipment, and to fix them fast if they do.
Talk to our clearance teamWe classify, we don't guess
HS codes are reviewed by experienced classifiers. A single wrong heading can have a knock-on effect across every entry filed under your customs code.
Permits identified before cargo ships
We check permit requirements when we review the order — not when the container is sitting at Durban port accruing demurrage.
Integrated with your freight
Because we also handle freight, our customs team gets documents before the vessel berths. No waiting for a separate broker to receive paperwork from a separate forwarder.
Customs is one part of the chain.
Ocean Freight
Sea freight managed by the same team means customs gets documents before the vessel arrives at Durban or Cape Town.
Air Freight
Pre-clearance while the aircraft is in transit. Goods cleared and released as fast as possible after landing.
Full-Service Logistics
Imports, freight forwarding and customs clearance under one account manager, one contract, one bill.
Tell us what you're importing or exporting.
Share your commodity, origin and approximate values. We'll confirm the applicable tariff heading, duty rate and any permit requirements — no obligation.