For South African individuals and businesses paying non-resident suppliers, contractors or family members, this newly tightened compliance check can delay or block a transfer that would previously have gone through without extra verification. It sits alongside, and is separate from, the Single Discretionary Allowance every resident individual gets for their own outbound transfers.
Source: South African Reserve Bank — Currency and Exchanges Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does this new rule actually affect?
It applies to payments to non-resident recipients of South African-source income, not to a resident's own personal offshore transfers under their annual allowance.
What did banks have to do differently after this change?
Authorised banks must obtain a formal Tax Compliance Status Approval for International Transfer confirming the non-resident recipient's SARS compliance before remitting funds.
Was exchange control getting stricter or looser before this change?
Looser — this tightening in late 2025 reversed a multi-year trend of gradually relaxed exchange control requirements.