As the original purchase price and the landed cost of goods can differ greatly, it is important to make decisions on imports with all the relevant figures at hand.
Take into account what duty tax percentage is payable on the goods, the cost of transportation and insurance, as well as VAT. You will then have a much clearer understanding of the financial outset, as well as whether or not the outcome of your import will be profitable.
Our Landed Cost Calculator makes determining the bottom-line price of importing your shipment easy.
To use our Landed Cost Calculator you will need:
- Your supplier’s sales contract and invoice.
- The exchange rate at the time of payment, or an estimate if you have not yet paid.
- The breakdown of cost for transport from your supplier to the international carrier.
- The cost of international transport.
- The breakdown of cost for transport from the international carrier to your premises.
- The cost of your freight insurance
- The duty tax percentage of your goods. If you are unsure what this percentage is, please refer to our Import Duty Tax Lookup.
Complete the appropriate fields with this information to determine what the eventual landed cost of your import will be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an import export license?
It is a number, or code, that you receive when you register at customs as an importer, exporter, or both. It is also referred to as a customs code, CNN number, customs client number or customs registration number. It allows an individual or business to clear goods through customs and to make international payments for imported and exported goods.
When do I need an import export license?
An import export license is officially required when:
- The total imported/exported cargo is R150 000 or more in one calendar year; or
- You are importing for resale or commercial gain and not for your own personal use.
- You are making an advance payment above R50 000 for goods still to be imported and require an APN (advanced payment notification) number.
- You are not a natural person, for example a company
- You are involved in other customs activities such as trade agreements, rebates or bond stores.
You also require a customs license if you want to make or receive an international payment for imported or exported goods through your bank (this is not necessary if you use your credit card, but credit card transactions typically involve very high forex costs).
Can I use an import export license to import or export anything from or to any country?
Yes, one import export license covers all goods traded across the South African border. Note that some regulated goods require an additional permit. You can search your product in our prohibited and regulated goods look up to see if there are any additional requirements.
You can use the same license to import from or export to different countries. If you export goods to a country that has a trade agreement with South Africa we recommend that you get the associated certificate of origin so that your buyers benefit from the import duty tax saving.
Do I need to pay any yearly fees once I've received my license?
No, yearly fees are not applicable to import export licenses.
Have a question?
We can provide free qualified guidance to help get you started with your import or export venture.
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Each edition gives free need to know advice on importing and exporting.
