Value-added tax (VAT) 

Indirect taxes such as VAT and customs and excise duties increasingly present onerous responsibilities for businesses. Our specialists advise clients on a wide range of indirect taxes regarding all aspects of these taxes, including compliance and reporting, dispute resolution and tax planning, as well as implementation.  

Our tax technology solutions will enhance and automate all your VAT processes and deliverables.  

How BDO can help you 

• Drafting tax practitioner opinions on indirect tax technical matters 
• Drafting and submission of VAT ruling applications 
• Performing indirect tax health checks and risk assessments
• Performing indirect tax compliance reviews
• Providing an outsourced or co-sourced solution to manage your indirect tax accounting and compliance deliverables 
• Supply chain exchange control reviews 
• VAT cash management reviews 
• Reviewing of legal agreements 
• VAT return submissions 
• VAT dispute assistance 
• VAT registrations/de-registrations 
• Voluntary disclosure programme assistance 
• Public officer and banking details update 
• Assistance with changes in details 
• VAT structuring and planning. 

 

Customs and excise 

SARS’ focus on customs and excise in today's global economy combines an increased volume of imports and exports with greater scrutiny of cross-border flows. This poses a significant challenge to business supply chains because a disruption to the uninterrupted international movement of goods can be costly. In addition, the legislative infrastructure can be complex in such situations. In this dynamic trading environment, your business must ensure compliance whilst carefully managing international trade costs to stay competitive and profitable. 

Our customs and excise team can bring a fresh perspective to your business. By drawing on our experience and specialist knowledge, we will identify opportunities to help you achieve your objectives of working in the most duty-efficient manner, whilst remaining compliant. 

How BDO can help you 

• Customs advisory services: for example, valuation, origin, tariff and rebate stores 
• Outsourcing or co-sourcing solutions: for example, monthly compliance programmes or an on-call customs specialist, as well as administration assistance with certain processes 
• Compliance reviews and health checks 
• Trade lobbying: for example, applications for duty reductions or increases 
• Licencing with the relevant authorities 
• Tax technology solutions to enhance and automate your customs and excise processes, internal controls and deliverables 
• Import and export planning using trade blocs: for example, free trade agreements and zones 
• Cash flow optimisation, i.e. deferment accounts and bond stores  
• Customs dispute resolution assistance 
• Excise structure reviews (e.g. diesel and alcohol)  
• Assistance with diesel rebate registrations and claims.   

 

VAT and customs 

Structuring your indirect taxes 
We work with our clients to develop indirect tax strategies that align with their business strategies, helping them to structure governance around the indirect tax function. Other services offered include: 

• Tax opinions 
• Indirect tax risk maps 
• Indirect tax compliance reviews 
• Import/export reviews 
• Outsourcing of the indirect tax management function 
• Process enhancements – VAT automation 
• Supply chain exchange control reviews 
• VAT cash management reviews 
• Reviewing of legal agreements 
• VAT structuring 
• Year-end computation and tax return preparation. 

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