While the South African Revenue Service confirms that it is not obligatory for South African residents travelling abroad to declare their personal effects when leaving the country, Flight Centre Travel Group encourages frequent travellers to do so to avoid any inconvenience or confusion.
Recent reports circulating in the media and on social media suggest that SARS has instituted a new requirement for South African residents to register such items as personal laptops, iPads, cellphones, golf clubs, cameras and other high-value items that travellers could take overseas on their travels.
“This is actually not a new requirement. In fact, it was policy in the past for all goods to be registered before departure and a DA65 form issued. This was phased out many years ago and now only applies for commercial cargo,” explains Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East & Africa Managing Director, Andrew Stark.
He also added that they have received confirmation form SARS that no traveller can be penalised for not declaring or registering their personal effects upon leaving the country.