How to avoid customs penalty

[Moerse Rooikat]

hi all
i am not the best writer of them all would just like to make everyone ordering from abroad aware of same points.
1: who ever you are ordering from make them send the correct invoice with your goods. as they send a fake one of low value and can get you a fine wen customs looks at it
2: track your shipment online if you see it gets on a plain to sa. phone the shipping company and mail them the invoice you got. say in mail i declare this is what i am bringing in.
3: yes you will get tax but its a lot less then a big penalty and keep it small i think under r3500 don't pay tax as well ( will be testing this soon)
hope this helps

 

[Cornelius]

Hi

Use these codes for clearing


1.E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free

2.cigarette battery – TH8507.80 - duty free

3.E-liquid – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

 

[Moerse Rooikat]

Hi

Use these codes for clearing


1.E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free

2.cigarette battery – TH8507.80 - duty free

3.E-liquid – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

were do you ad these codes?

 

[Andre]

Hi

Use these codes for clearing


1.E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free

2.cigarette battery – TH8507.80 - duty free

3.E-liquid – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

Very helpful, thank you @Cornelius. Would atomizer and atomizer parts fall under the same code as e-cigarettes?

 

[Cornelius]

@Moerse Rooikat use these as the clearing codes, meaning this is what customs "tie" you products to in the tariff heading manual.

@Andre yes indeed.

These are the known codes.


1.E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free

2.cigarette battery – TH8507.80 - duty free

3.E-liquid – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

4.flavormax vapors – TH8543.70 - duty free

5.E/C devices – TH8543.70 – duty free

6.E/V devices – TH8543.70 – duty free

7.cartomizers – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

8.vinto vape – TH8543.70 – duty free

Just be aware that a customs official receives a commercial invoice and it states Kangertec atomiser, eleaf coils etc. It is impossible for him to even try and understand what the invoice refers to. You have to start at your supplier. They need to describe as clearly and descriptive as possible.

Cartomizer Kangertec
E-cigarettes - Eleaf coils 0.5 ohm

In single or HE cases I would suggest that you ask the supplier to add the said TH code to your commercial invoice.
All products on a invoice MUST have a value for customs purposes. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
It can have a value and then a "terms of payment" as free of charge if it is free or warranty returns.

Hope this helps
I will be charging going forward. LOL
Just kidding

 

[Faiyaz Cheulkar]

Hi

Use these codes for clearing


1.E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free

2.cigarette battery – TH8507.80 - duty free

3.E-liquid – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

I am new to importing stuff, so a few stupid questions
1. When u say duty free it means zero tax ?
2. Say ur device comes to a local post office who asks u for the invoice, we show them the invoice and quote E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free ?
3. Do we need to tell the sender to say on the packaging or the label on the parcel "E-cigarette".
4. I was charged vat by the local post office ??

 

[Cornelius]

Vat/Tax will still apply

 

[Dietz]

I am new to importing stuff, so a few stupid questions
1. When u say duty free it means zero tax ?
2. Say ur device comes to a local post office who asks u for the invoice, we show them the invoice and quote E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free ?
3. Do we need to tell the sender to say on the packaging or the label on the parcel "E-cigarette".
4. I was charged vat by the local post office ??

@Faiyaz Cheulkar That tariff that you provided is Duty free, but will still attract Customs Import VAT.

 

[Faiyaz Cheulkar]

thanks @Dietz , so say an item is not on the duty free list, do you have to pay custom charges @10% and also import VAT @ 10% ??

 

[antonherbst]

@Moerse Rooikat use these as the clearing codes, meaning this is what customs "tie" you products to in the tariff heading manual.

@Andre yes indeed.

These are the known codes.


1.E-cigarettes / TH8543.70 - Duty free

2.cigarette battery – TH8507.80 - duty free

3.E-liquid – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

4.flavormax vapors – TH8543.70 - duty free

5.E/C devices – TH8543.70 – duty free

6.E/V devices – TH8543.70 – duty free

7.cartomizers – TH3824.99.90 - duty free

8.vinto vape – TH8543.70 – duty free

Just be aware that a customs official receives a commercial invoice and it states Kangertec atomiser, eleaf coils etc. It is impossible for him to even try and understand what the invoice refers to. You have to start at your supplier. They need to describe as clearly and descriptive as possible.

Cartomizer Kangertec
E-cigarettes - Eleaf coils 0.5 ohm

In single or HE cases I would suggest that you ask the supplier to add the said TH code to your commercial invoice.
All products on a invoice MUST have a value for customs purposes. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
It can have a value and then a "terms of payment" as free of charge if it is free or warranty returns.

Hope this helps
I will be charging going forward. LOL
Just kidding

What a winner post. Give this man a bells. @Cornelius when you come fetch the bb condensation plugs ill give it to you.

 

[MoB16Zah]

Thanks @Cornelius @Dietz super informative !!!

 

[Hooked]

Could someone please give me the website where one can find out more about Customs charges? A friend of mine wants to import Swiss chocolates.

 

[Dietz]

Could someone please give me the website where one can find out more about Customs charges? A friend of mine wants to import Swiss chocolates.

It depends on the info that you require. If you need to see what Customs VAT and Duties are payable then I might be able to help you, but would require the Customs Tariff Code as well as quantity that they want to import.

 

[Dietz]

JUst did a quick lookup, it seems like they are looking at 20% duty on this tariff:

 

[Hooked]

JUst did a quick lookup, it seems like they are looking at 20% duty on this tariff:
View attachment 138475

Thanks a lot for your trouble @Dietz. So they would pay 20% Customs Duty, plus VAT - is my understanding correct?

 

[Dietz]

Thanks a lot for your trouble @Dietz. So they would pay 20% Customs Duty, plus VAT - is my understanding correct?

Yes, Kind of. The calculation is a bit more complicated than that, but basically as you said.
It can also be more if the sugar tax is added and calculated (when using a different tariff code)

(This specific tariff does not call for Sugar tax) This is what would be payable if you used That tariff for importing 10KG chocolate from Geneva to the total Invoice value of R1000:

 

[Hooked]

Yes, Kind of. The calculation is a bit more complicated than that, but basically as you said.
It can also be more if the sugar tax is added and calculated (when using a different tariff code)

(This specific tariff does not call for Sugar tax) This is what would be payable if you used That tariff for importing 10KG chocolate from Geneva to the total Invoice value of R1000:
View attachment 138483

Ah I see - hardly worth it then to pay a third of the value in tax, but I'll let her know. Many thanks!!!