We have no further clarity regarding the new online traveller declaration system announced by SARS last week, which took the travel and tourism industry by surprise.
SARS was unfortunately not able to join the SATSA webinar session today (18 October 2022).
SATSA did receive a statement from Mark Kingon, Head: Stakeholder Relations Integrity and Anti-Corruption at SARS, who apologised for the “confusion” caused by the publication last week on the SARS website and media reports and queries.
“I do recognise that you as an industry have been through significant turmoil in the last few years and in no way does SARS want to add to this burden,” he said.
He further committed SARS to consulting with the industry and a “seamless process” that is “professional” while “assisting the risk aspects” they are seeking to address.
To that end, SATSA will be writing to the SARS Commissioner today to ascertain full clarity; most notably however to achieve a delay in the stated 1 November implementation date.
Should you have legitimate questions over and above those below and provided during the webinar (which we are busy curating), please email hannelie@satsa.co.za.
- Will the expected rollout still commence on 1 Nov 2022?
- What is the aim of the travel pass? Why is it necessary?
- Does it affect SA citizens as well as foreign travellers?
- How will this simplify passenger movement?
- To what extent is it dependent on tax regulations/ compliance?
- To what extent does it have to do with the grey listing of South Africa and International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements? And if this is the case, why don’t all countries have this?
- Are there any other countries in the world that have one based on tax regulations? There are of course countries that have visa requirements like the USA with ESTA for example, but this is about security not tax.
- What are the exact criteria for SARS to refuse to issue the travel pass?
- Is the online system tested and also tested on high volumes of applications?
- Is the service provider a reputable company with a broad experience and excellent track record in implementing this kind of high load systems?
- What will be the response time between the application and receiving the travel pass? This should be an automated process with same day response/issue of travel pass because otherwise, a backlog will occur.
- Will the system target airports and land or sea borders?
- The press release indicates “upon arrival in SA there will be instructions at the airport that will guide and inform travellers what to do next”. Please inform us what this exactly means because we don’t want long lines and waiting times at airports for arriving and leaving visitors.
- Who will be required to check that travellers have a SARS pass before allowing them onto a flight to OR Tambo?
- How will airlines and or passengers be penalised if a passenger who should have a pass, arrives at OR Tambo without one?
- If airlines are involved in checking passengers have a pass before departing for South Africa, did SARS advise IATA?
- What’s your local and international communication plan and plan B when unaware travellers arrive? Will there be an official FAQ?
- How will it be translated so those who don’t speak English will understand?
- When they talk about it being computerised, how are individuals who don’t travel with computers or don’t have online access, email or data going to do this electronically or is there going to be an app for a phone?
- How will this affect passengers in transit?
- Does it apply to each member of the family (including children)
- When will it be rolled out to other airports in South Africa?
- Where can we find the online link to apply for a Travel Pass?
- How will this affect international guests claiming VAT back?
- Is the system compliant in terms of POPI and GDPR regulations?
- What safeguards will SARS put in place to ensure the system is not hacked?
- Is it the individual’s responsibility, or will this be delegated to their trade contact, e.g., a DMC or travel agent?
- If the system is down, what will SARS do? Is there a plan to address the impact load shedding might cause?
- Can a form that has already been submitted be altered prior to the flight (if someone has purchased something at the airport for example)?
- Are you able to declare manually at the airport?
- If a person is out of the country before the implementation date and arrives back in SA after, do you they still have to obtain the travel pass?
- Who is going to bear the administrative costs? Airlines would need time to update their inflight messaging systems and to notify pax who have booked far in advance.
- What guarantees do we have that the automated pass is sent to travellers right away and does not cause holdups, cancellations, and inconvenience?
