GRA further amends Customs import policy

Effective July 20, importers and licensed Customhouse Brokers will be required to submit a third (3rd) copy of their Customs declarations (otherwise known as Form C 72) documents to the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Customs Lodging Area, a release from the GRA said today.

Copies of the accompanying Bill of Lading and/or commercial invoices where necessary will also be required. The GRA said that in cases where there are tax exemptions, a tax exemption copy in the form of a C72 should be prepared, showing revenue loss as a result of the tax exemptions granted.

The GRA said that importers and licensed Customhouse Brokers can be assured that these amendments will in no way impact negatively on them or cause undue delays to the processing time for import declarations lodged.

The GRA reminded that in the past Customs declaration documents had to be submitted in quadruplicate. However, the paperwork requirements were shortened as management sought to expedite processing time.

In wake of the new impending changes, the GRA said that plans are being drawn up to reorient current staff of the GRA, especially at the Entry Processing Unit and Customshouse brokers, particularly new recruits about the procedures involved in preparing and lodging customs declarations and the relevant documents.