Customs and Excise Highlights

1. Draft Amendment regarding the substitution of Rule 75.00 – rebate users need not re-register for the 2017 Harmonized System Nomenclature. The Explanatory memorandum reads as follows:

“1 January 2017 marks the implementation of the 2017 version of the Harmonized System (HS) Nomenclature. South Africa will implement the amendments to the HS 2017, in terms of section 48(1)(c), with effect from 1 January 2017.

Rebate users are currently registered with SARS in terms of the current HS items, tariff headings and subheadings. The draft amendment to rule 75.00 avoids a re-registration process in terms of the HS 2017 for rebate users”.

Due date for comments is 23 November 2016. Send comments to: C&E_legislativecomments@sars.gov.za.

2. Amendment of Rule 46A3 relating to the non-reciprocal treatment under the Generalised System of Preferences granted to developing and least developed countries by the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
3. On another note, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s (CDH) lawyers once again feature prominently in the 8th edition of Best Lawyers in South Africa, one of the profession’s respected peer review publications.

This year Best Lawyers recognised 10 directors in CDH’s Cape Town office and 26 lawyers from the Johannesburg office.

Notably, three of the firm’s lawyers received Lawyer of the Year awards, namely Emil Brincker (Tax), Pieter Conradie (Arbitration and Mediation) in Johannesburg, and Francis Newham (Mergers and Acquisitions) in Cape Town.

Adding to this impressive achievement, CDH’s Real Estate practice was named the Law Firm of the Year in their practice area.

To read more, follow this link: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr increases its ranking in latest ‘Best Lawyers’ survey.