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Importing From China to South Africa for the First Time? 5 Things to Sort Before You Pay a Supplier
The PFC Royal Logistics team, Shenzhen, since 2010 · Facts checked
Your supplier will happily take your deposit. SARS will not release your goods until your side is in order. Here are the 5 things to sort first, how the tax really works, and a calculator for your own order.
"I finally started my business and will be making my first order on Alibaba. Any issues I should prepare for in terms of customs duty?"
A new importer in South Africa, Reddit, May 2025. Read the threadIt is the right question. And the honest answer is yes: there is a lot to prepare. Most of it is simple once you can see it in one place.
Picture your first order
You found the product. The supplier sent a good price. You paid the deposit.
Three weeks later the goods are on their way, and a message arrives: "What is your customs client number?"
You do not have one. You are not sure what it is. Your goods are ready to ship, and your side of the paperwork is empty.
This is avoidable. The steps are not hard. They just take time, so start them while the factory is still making your goods.
What you will learn on this page
- The 5 steps to sort before your first shipment.
- How SARS works out your duty and your 15% VAT, with the 10% mark-up most people miss.
- A calculator that shows the tax on your own order.
- What a clearing agent does, and when you need one.
- 5 questions to ask any forwarder, including us.
The 5 steps before your first shipment
1Register as an importer
SARS says any person, local or foreign, who imports goods into South Africa must register as an importer. You do it on SARS eFiling, and you get a customs client number.
SARS asks you to send:
- Proof of address, such as a municipal account.
- A certified copy of your ID.
- Your company or close corporation registration, if you have one.
- Your tax letters from SARS (VAT, income tax and others).
- Proof of your bank details, on a bank letterhead or a bank-certified statement.
You must be over 18 and have a permanent address in South Africa. If you are a foreign business, you must nominate a registered agent in South Africa first.
Start this now. Collecting certified copies takes longer than you think.
2Know your three possible charges
SARS lists three kinds of charge on imports:
- Customs duty.It depends on the customs value, the quantity and the tariff classification of your goods.
- Anti-dumping or countervailing duty.Only on goods under investigation for being dumped or subsidised.
- VAT.15%. And it is worked out in a way that surprises first-time importers. See the next step.
3Understand the VAT formula
SARS does not charge VAT on your customs value alone. It first adds 10%, then adds the duty, then takes 15%.
(Customs value + 10%) + duty = added tax value
Added tax value × 15% = VAT
The 10% mark-up applies to goods from outside the Customs Union. Goods from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini do not get it.
Here is an example. Only an example: your duty rate will differ.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Customs value | R100,000 |
| Duty at 20% (example) | R20,000 |
| Added tax value: R110,000 + R20,000 | R130,000 |
| VAT at 15% | R19,500 |
| Total tax and duty | R39,500 |
On R100,000 of goods, that is nearly 40% in tax and duty. Plan for it before you set your selling price.
4Decide who clears the goods
SARS says an importer who uses a licensed clearing agent or a registered agent does not need to register as an EDI user to send declarations. That is why most first-time importers use an agent.
A good agent checks your papers before they go in, flags problems early, and tells you the final bill. Ask for the fee in writing.
5Do not rely on the old R500 rule
Until 2024, small e-commerce parcels worth under R500 paid a flat 20% and no VAT. In August 2024, SARS announced that it would add VAT from 1 September 2024, and replace the flat 20% with new duty rates for low-value goods.
If you plan to send small parcels to customers, do not build your prices on the old rule. Check what SARS applies today.
Do the sum for your order
Duty: R20,000
Added tax value: R130,000
VAT: R19,500
Total duty and VAT: R39,500 (39.5% of the customs value)
This follows the formula on the SARS website. Your clearing agent works out the customs value. It is often the price of the goods plus freight and insurance to the port, so ask your agent. 20% is only a starting duty rate: your tariff classification sets the real one. Anti-dumping duties, clearing fees and delivery are not in this sum.
5 questions to ask any forwarder
1What is the full price to my door?
Ask: "What do I pay in total, with clearance, duty, VAT and delivery?"
Red flag: a freight price and nothing else. One South African importer wrote of a quote with $2,500 in "local charges" added on $400 of goods.
Our answer: we clear export customs, and on air and sea freight we clear customs at both ends. Ask for the exact total for your cargo.
2Who clears customs in South Africa?
Ask: "Which licensed agent clears my goods? What is their fee?"
Red flag: no name and no price.
3Whose customs client number goes on the entry?
Ask: "Will my number be on the declaration? Will I get a copy of it?"
Our answer: on our DDP shipments PFC is the importer on the customs form, and customs papers are available on request. If you are registered with SARS and want to act as the importer yourself, choose customs clearance instead.
4Will the declared value match my invoice?
Ask: "Will you declare the true value and the right tariff code?"
Red flag: "We can make the invoice smaller."
5What if goods are lost or damaged?
Ask: "Is cover included? What does it cost?"
Our answer: cover is not included automatically. We offer it for an extra fee. Ask before you ship.
See what a carrier pays by law in our insurance guide.
Which way fits your order?
| Cargo | Way | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 21 kg and up | Air freight, Johannesburg or Cape Town | 5 to 10 days |
| Small and urgent | Express | 2 to 5 working days |
| Light parcels that can wait | Postal packet | 10 to 28 days |
| Large or heavy, from 1 cubic metre | Sea freight, Durban, Cape Town or Ngqura | Ask for your city |
Customs checks can add days.
Buying from several suppliers?
First orders often come from three or four factories. Shipping each alone repeats the fixed fees every time. Our warehouse in Shenzhen can receive them all and ship once. New customers get the first 30 days of storage free, counted from the first delivery. Read how it works in Buying from 3 or more suppliers? Ship it all as one.
Where PFC fits
We are PFC Royal Logistics. We work from Shenzhen, and have since 2010.
- Your suppliers send goods to our warehouse. We charge no receiving fee.
- We count and check every carton, and tell you the result.
- We combine everything into one shipment.
- We ship by express, post, air or sea, and clear customs on the way.
What happens when you ask for a quote
- You tell us what you buy.The goods, the weight and your city in South Africa. It takes 2 minutes.
- We reply within 24 hours.You get a price, and we tell you how long it is valid. Our prices update every day.
- You add it to the calculator.You see your real landed cost. A quote is free.
Quick questions
Do I have to register with SARS to import from China?
Yes. SARS says any person, local or foreign, who imports goods into South Africa must register as an importer. You do it on SARS eFiling and get a customs client number.
What documents does SARS ask for when you register?
SARS lists proof of address, a certified copy of your ID, your company or close corporation registration, your tax letters from SARS, proof of your bank details, and a cellphone or phone account to confirm contact details. You must be over 18 with a permanent address in South Africa.
Can a foreign business import into South Africa?
Yes, but SARS says a foreign importer must nominate a registered agent in South Africa. That agent takes full liability for the foreign importer's dealings with Customs.
What do I pay on imported goods?
SARS lists customs duty, anti-dumping and countervailing duties where they apply, and VAT. The duty depends on the customs value, the quantity and the tariff classification of the goods.
How is import VAT worked out?
SARS gives this formula: customs value plus 10%, plus any duties, then multiplied by 15%. The 10% mark-up applies to goods from outside the Customs Union.
Do I need a clearing agent?
SARS says an importer who uses a licensed clearing agent or a registered agent does not need to register as an EDI user to send declarations. Most first-time importers use an agent. Ask yours for the fee in writing.
How long does shipping from China to South Africa take?
Air freight from 21 kg takes 5 to 10 days, airport to door, through Johannesburg or Cape Town. Express takes 2 to 5 working days. Sea freight is the slowest, through Durban, Cape Town or Ngqura. Ask us for the time to your town. Customs checks can add days.
Does a quote cost anything?
No. A quote is free. Tell us what you buy, the weight and your city in South Africa. We reply within 24 hours.
Where this comes from
- SARS: Importers (who must register, documents, foreign importers and registered agents)
- SARS: Duties and taxes for importers (duties, VAT formula, 10% mark-up)
- SARS media release, 8 August 2024: changes to the customs import system (R500 concession and VAT)
- A first-time importer in South Africa asks what to prepare, Reddit r/Alibaba, May 2025
Rules change. We checked these on 24 October 2026. Check again before you ship.