Import duty is charged on goods entering South Africa, calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the shipment, and is payable before the goods are released from customs.
What it means
The rate varies by product category and is set to protect certain local industries or to raise revenue, and is calculated and paid separately from any VAT and, where applicable, excise duty due on the same import.
Where it fits in
Import duty adds directly to the landed cost of imported goods, feeding into a business's cost of sales and pricing, and must be declared correctly against the business's import code.
Key rules
- Charged on the customs value of imported goods.
- Rate varies by product category, its tariff classification.
- Payable before goods are released from customs.
- Adds to the landed cost of imported stock, separate from VAT and excise duty.
