Customs set to simplify payment of import duty

Maldives Customs is working on introducing a ‘simplified declaration’ mechanism which will make the payment of import duty easier.

In an episode of ‘Baaru Hathareh’ which aired on SSTV on Monday night, Customs’ Superintendent Ali Zubair said that with the introduction of ‘simplified declaration’, private citizens who import goods for personal use will be able to declare and pay duty on their goods via their mobile phones, without involving a broker.

Customs expects to introduce ‘simplified declaration’ within the next two months.

At present, people are required to submit a form to declare goods and pay import duty. This is done through a broker.

Zubair said that the introduction of ‘simplified declaration’ will significantly cut down the time it takes for the process.

“We expect to be able to introduce simplified declaration within the next two months, allowing people to submit information and declare their goods by themselves using their mobile phones without needing to involve a Customs broker or any other party,” he said.

Zubair said that Customs frequently receive complaints regarding people being unable to track the status of goods they import from overseas. He said that the involvement of a broker makes the process more complicated. Zubair said that the failure to declare goods or failure to provide Customs with the information it needs result in delays in receipt of imported goods.

He said that the Customs needs the information to set the price, rank and decide the duty rate for imported goods.

Zubair said that the introduction of ‘simplified declaration’ will address many of the complaints made to Customs.

Goods imported for personal use valued up to MVR 10,000 are exempt from import duty.