Customs & compliance
South Sudan Import Duties and Taxes
What is charged, how it is calculated, and why we won't quote you a duty rate we cannot tie to the Act in force on the day your goods are entered.
Why this page does not list rates
We could fill this page with percentages. Several commercial websites do. We are not going to, and the reason matters.
South Sudan sets its tax and duty rates in an annual Financial Act. The rates that apply to your consignment are the rates in force on the date of entry, as enacted for that fiscal year. A figure published by a freight company last year may no longer be the law.
Secondary sources also disagree with each other on current rates, particularly on the headline rate of customs duty and on VAT. Publishing a confident number sourced from another freight company's blog would be worse than useless to you: you would budget against it, and then be assessed against something else.
What we will do instead: tell you what charges exist, how they are calculated, and how to establish the rate that will actually apply to your goods.
The charges that can arise
Customs duty
Assessed on the customs value of the goods at the rate applicable to their tariff classification, under the Customs Service Act. The rate depends on the HS code, so classification is the first thing to settle.
Value added tax / sales tax
A consumption tax applied on importation. The rate and its scope are set in the Financial Act for the year.
Excise
Applies to specific categories of goods, usually alcohol, tobacco, fuel and a handful of others, at rates set in the Financial Act.
Fees and other charges
Various administrative and service charges may arise in the course of clearance. These are separate from tax, and they are published by the bodies that levy them.
How the amount is worked out
- Classify the goods. The HS code determines the duty rate.
- Establish the customs value. Normally the transaction value supported by the invoice, under the valuation provisions of the Customs Service Act.
- Apply the duty rate in force at the date of entry.
- Apply consumption taxes on the appropriate base.
- Add any excise applicable to the goods.
The order matters, because consumption tax is generally calculated on a base that already includes duty. That is why a small difference in classification can have a larger effect on the total than you expect.
How to establish the rate that will apply to you
- Check the Financial Act in force. The National Revenue Authority publishes the Acts.
- Confirm your classification before you ship, so you know which rate you are looking up.
- Ask the Authority or a licensed agent for a position on your specific goods.
- Ask us. We will look it up against your HS code and tell you what we find and where we found it, including the times when there isn't a definitive answer to find.
Get a quotation
Tell us what you are shipping
Send us the cargo description, weight or volume, and the pickup and delivery addresses. We reply with a written rate, the transit time and the documents you will need.
Freight rates never include destination taxes
Worth stating plainly, because it is a recurring misunderstanding: our published freight rates cover transport and the services listed against each row. They don't include duty, VAT or excise payable in South Sudan. Those are assessed on your goods, by the Authority, and paid by the importer.
If you want a landed cost rather than a freight rate, ask us for one and tell us the HS code.
A note on exemptions
Exemptions and relief schemes exist in most customs regimes, including South Sudan's, and their scope is defined in legislation. We don't advise on whether a particular consignment qualifies, and we would treat any forwarder who promises you an exemption up front with caution. If you believe relief applies to your goods, take it up with the Authority or a qualified adviser, and we will work with whatever determination you obtain.
Before you rely on this page
This page is published as general guidance for people shipping cargo to South Sudan. It is not legal advice and it isn't customs advice. Duty rates, fees, permits and procedures are set by the authorities named above and they change. South Sudan sets its tax and duty rates in an annual Financial Act, so what applies to your goods depends on the date they are entered.
We don't publish duty rates, penalty amounts or clearance fees that we cannot tie to a current official source. Where a figure matters to your costing, confirm it with the relevant authority or ask us to check it for your specific goods and HS code before you ship.