The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced that the use of the Simplified Customs Declaration (SCD) or C73 has been revised to a limit of US$500, effective from December 10.
In a press release on Wednesday Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur said, “We have taken into account persons importing items such as refrigerators and other electrical items as part of their consignment, which will immediately increase the value of the consignment hence we believe that US$500 is a reasonable limit.”
He emphasized that the flat rate of 30% duty and zero Value Added Tax will only apply to consignments for non-commercial purposes and contained in passenger’s baggage or imported in gift parcels sent by air, sea or parcel post where the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value does not exceed the Guyana dollar equivalent of US$200.
“Where the CIF value exceeds US$200 but is less than US$500, the Simplified Customs Declaration form will be used, however, the applicable rate of duty and 16% VAT will be applied unless the items are zero-rated or exempted,” said Sattaur. The C72 form shall continue to be used for imports of personal and household effects or non-commercial items where the CIF value exceeds the Guyana dollar equivalent of US$500 but does not exceed the Guyana dollar equivalent of US$1000.
Full duties and taxes will be payable in these cases unless zero-rated or exempted by virtue of the relevant schedules to the Customs and VAT Acts.
These declarations shall be processed and paid at the wharves or transit sheds where necessary. The GRA on December 3, implemented the SCD, which for the time being, does not require a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), in an attempt to alleviate the hassle associated with the clearance of barrels during this season at the Customs and Trade Administration. This procedure includes four steps as compared to 13 steps under the previous system.
The GRA said the form is simple and does not require the services of a broker. The form can be uplifted, at no cost, from the Customs offices, at the wharves and shipping agents or it can be downloaded from the GRA’s website located at www.revenuegy.org
