The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced that it would no longer be granting tax exemptions and registration of vehicles in the ‘G’ series, such as Toyota Noah, Voxy, Liteace, Grand Hiace, Regius or any other similar type of vehicle.
According to a notice placed in Wednesday’s Stabroek News, persons were previously allowed to register the above-mentioned vehicles in ‘G’ for goods transportation purposes and in doing qualified for tax exemptions under the Excise Tax Act. However, GRA states that enforcement checks have revealed that these vehicles are not being used for the purposes intended.
As a result, the GRA announced that as of July 1st 2019, applications to the Tax Exemptions Processing and Verification Unit for vehicles registered in ‘G’ will be denied. The Authority also states that “…applications already submitted for processing within the Division will be processed but must be fully completed prior to July 1st, 2019. Thereafter, those vehicles still being in transit, processed or not having fully completed their release or registration must be retrieved and reprocessed thereby paying all the requisite Customs Duties and Taxes.”
However, in acknowledgement of those owners of vehicles already registered in ‘G’, the GRA advises that the following conditions be adhered to:
- Seats behind the driver to be completely removed
- Windows, other than that of the driver and front seat passenger, should be removed and replaced with metal sheets
- The GRA in its notice also emphasised that its policy thereby disallowing such vehicles to be registered in the ‘B’ series, is still in effect.
- The notice added, “Anyone found in breach of these requirements will be summoned to pay the full (not prorated) duties and taxes applicable.”
