As of June 2025, SARS has mandated that all customs traders must update their profiles on RLA to avoid suspension of their customs codes (CU numbers), which can lead to serious business disruptions

Key actions required on RLA:

• Upload or update your RLA profile (legal entity and trade details)
• Merge tax and customs profiles via eFiling’s Legal Entity Registration
• Assign correct RLA user roles to staff for access and application submission
• Complete the onboarding steps on eFiling to ensure full activation
• South African Revenue Service

The Customs Sufficient Knowledge (CSK) Programme

Compliance isn’t just about documentation - it also involves competence. SARS requires applicants for registration, licensing, and accredited or AEO status to demonstrate “sufficient knowledge” of customs laws, procedures, interpretive notes, and practices. This is achieved via the Customs Sufficient Knowledge (CSK) test (also referred to in the context of AEO as the Customs Competency Assessment)

Highlights:

• Must be registered via eFiling and nominated by the entity to take the test
• At least a 70% pass mark is required
• The certificate is valid for five years
• Retakes are allowed before expiry to maintain compliance
• Accounting weekly

For those pursuing AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) status, the CSK requirement is mandatory. The process involves nomination, booking, and taking the competency assessment via eFiling. Preparation materials are available under SARS External Policies, and a related video is also provided via SARS TV

Why training and SOPs are mission-critical

Meeting RLA and CSK obligations goes beyond ticking boxes - you must embed compliance into your operations:

• Structured Training: Staff responsible for customs transactions must be coached and tested in customs law, classification, valuation, risk management, origin rules, and documentation protocols.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): These documents must clearly define how you:

1. Process imports and exports
2. Handle HS classification and customs valuation
3. Manage document control and record-keeping
4. Conduct internal audits and compliance checks
5. Documented Evidence: For RLA and AEO applications, SARS expects these procedures to be formalized, version-controlled, and signed off by management.

Having these in place not only helps you achieve CSK compliance, but also supports audit-ready operations and faster RLA onboarding.

Why this matters - and what happens if you don’t comply

• Suspended customs codes can immediately halt trade activities, without a customs code, exporters and importers cannot process any consignments through Customs.
• Penalties and fines
• Incomplete RLA profiles or incorrect documents can lead to application delays, shipment holds, and reputational damage

Without formal training and SOPs, businesses risk CSK test failure, rejection of RLA or AEO status, or failing audits.

Summary Table: Key RLA Compliance Steps

Final Thoughts

The RLA system marks a significant shift for exporters and importers, requiring both digital readiness and substantive operational competence. With the added layer of CSK, businesses must be proactive, structured, and compliant to continue seamless trade.

Update your RLA profile now via eFiling (if not already done)

• Nominate and prepare personnel for the CSK test well ahead of deadlines
• Institutionalize training and SOPs to underpin better customs governance and audit readiness

The launch of SARS’s new RLA registration framework represents a major leap forward for customs operations in South Africa. It’s not just a procedural change - it's a shift toward greater transparency, consistency, and digital empowerment in how businesses engage with the customs regime. For exporters and importers, the key to success lies in staying ahead of these changes, aligning your internal systems, and embedding compliance at every stage. Ready to transform your customs experience? Let’s embrace the new RLA era - streamlined, secure, and built for the future.

Attend our SOP Workshop:

On 19 November, Vicenda is hosting an online workshop where I will lead participants through the process to create an SOP that is logical, updatable, implementable and contains your relevant company policies including how to effectively utilise this document to prevent errors, wasted time, and unnecessary fees and fines.

For more information, click here:  https://vicenda.co.za/documents/SOPnov2025.pdf

Important links:

Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) – main page

https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/registration-licensing-and-accreditation/

South African Revenue Service - Guide to Customs Trader Portal for Registration, Licensing & Accreditation

https://www.sars.gov.za/guide-to-customs-trader-portal-for-registration-licensing-and-accreditation/

South African Revenue Service - Importers – registration via RLA

https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/registration-licensing-and-accreditation/importers/ exporters

South African Revenue Service - RLA Updates Archive

https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/registration-licensing-and-accreditation/rla/

South African Revenue Service - Letter to Trade – updating registration/licensing details

https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/letter-to-trade-updating-of-registration-or-licensing-details-of-existing-customs-clients-on-rla-system/

Contributed by Linda Bird-Duxbury, Director, ITCC