Africa-Press – Eswatini. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg has announced a significant, immediate increase in the tax-free threshold for personal goods brought across the border by travellers.
Effective Friday, November 28th (often referred to as Black Friday) , the current E1 000 limit is skyrocketing to E10 000, offering massive financial relief and a simpler declaration process for EmaSwati.
Why the Big Change?
The key motivation behind this tenfold increase is to encourage honest declaration and combat the problem of travellers hiding goods out of fear. Previously, many feared that border officials would reject their slips and charge VAT due to minor printing errors or issues with the vendor’s tax registration.
Minister Rijkenberg explained that the increased E10 000 threshold means that even if there is a mistake on the receipt, travellers will not be charged VAT on goods up to that amount. Officials may still point out issues with the slip for future reference, but no immediate VAT will be demanded.
“We’ve now made it very easy for you to declare with a 10 000 threshold,” Rijkenberg said.
How the New E10 000 Threshold Works
Goods under E10 000: Travellers must still bring and declare their slips. If the total value is E10 000 or less, you will not be charged VAT, even if the slips have errors. This applies to personal purchases.
Goods over E10 000 (e.g., a E12 000 fridge): These items do not fit under the tax-free threshold. To avoid paying tax (VAT), the invoice for these larger items must be perfect. The slip must clearly show:
Your name and physical address.
Your ID number (if possible).
The shop’s tax number.
Clear details on the goods (e.g., ‘fridge’), the VAT amount, and the total invoice amount.
A National Call to Action: The Double Benefit
The Minister made a strong plea to all EmaSwati to declare all purchases , even with the increased threshold, because it provides a double source of income for the country:
VAT Claim: By presenting the slips, the country can claim the VAT paid on those goods through a system between ERS and SARS.
Increased SACU Receipts: Documented trade (proof of purchase/slips) with SACU members (South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, and Namibia) is used to calculate the country’s share of SACU receipts. More declared trade means a higher portion of receipts for the country.
Important Note: This new threshold is strictly for personal travellers and not for business use. Businesses must continue to use their normal declaration routes.
“please help your country… We need the slips.” This change is expected to bring “a lot of relief” to citizens while significantly benefiting the nation’s economy.
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