Importing & Cross-Border Trade
What an import really costs, what needs a permit, and what holds goods at the port.
Incoterms: What "FOB" Actually Leaves You Paying
EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP decide which import costs are yours and when the risk passes. The term on your supplier's quote is why the price looked good.
What Importing Actually Costs in South Africa
Import VAT is not 15% of the supplier's invoice. How SARS calculates the amount you owe, and the costs that are never on the quote.
Do You Need to Register as an Importer?
SARS importer registration and when ITAC requires an import permit - including the rule that catches out anyone buying used machinery.
Why Goods Get Held at Customs - and Who Pays
The common reasons a shipment is stopped in South Africa, why the importer carries the liability rather than the clearing agent, and what the delay costs.