Be Wise – be excise smart
· 1 min read
Importers and local manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have a legal obligation to submit specified alcoholic products for official tariff determination to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Submissions to SARS must include product- and manufacturing process information, as well as a duly motivated proposed tariff classification for each product. The deadline period is 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2020.
All alcoholic beverage product types/brands for which a tariff determination submission has not yet been submitted to SARS; i.e. all packed, imported and locally manufactured, alcoholic beverages produced through distillation and blending, fermentation or brewing are included. Alcoholic beverage types and brands that are imported or locally manufactured for the first time must be submitted for tariff determination upfront.
Overdue products include spirituous beverages entered under subheading 2208.90 (“Other”), liqueurs and cordials, clear malt beer and other fermented beverages. Late submissions could result in products being detained and/or the retrospective application of a new tariff.
Affected entities may contact Pieter Marais at [email protected] or Charleen van Heerden at [email protected].
More from
Markets, business and trade
Does Government know what it’s costing you?
A decision made in Pretoria can change the way a wine business operates. But who makes sure the people making those decisions understand what happens on the ground? South Africa Wine’s Jordyn Goeieman takes us inside the often unseen work of influencing the policies that affect the industry.
All roads lead to Wine Paris
With professionals from more than 169 countries attending Wine Paris in 2026, the exhibition has become an increasingly important meeting point for the global wine trade. Nicolas Cuissard, Director of Wine Paris, speaks to WineLand about the exhibition’s growing international influence, opportunities for South African producers and what it takes to turn participation into business.
Before you bottle it, can you sell it?
A good wine and an attractive label are not enough to build a sustainable business. South Africa Wine’s Phil Bowes explains why finding customers, testing assumptions and understanding the numbers should come before committing to a new wine brand.