The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ALL returning Bahamians and residents must fill out their Customs declarations electronically, and pay associated fees online, before they land in this country as of June 12, 2023, it was revealed yesterday.

Customs officials advised that use of the digital Accompanied and Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration (C-17 and C-18) forms will be mandatory for all inbound Bahamians and residents from that date onwards.

Nadia Newton-Williams, a grade one revenue officer with Customs’ information technology (IT) unit, said the Exempt App was one of several initiatives launched by the agency to digitise services frequently used by residents, visitors and businesses.

She added: “A part of our mission statement is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our operations, and we believe that this new app will do just that. The app was created to facilitate the electronic submission of Customs declarations. We know that as the C-17.

“Presently, Exempt is active and being used by visitors and residents alike. The app is expected to be mandatory for all Bahamians and residents on June 12, 2023. The whole purpose of this app in the long run is to save you time. Once the declaration is paid, the officer verifies your submission. Does their checks as they deem necessary and you are on your way. “

Users are required to complete a one-time registration with an e-mail and scan their e-passport into the app, which will detect and upload all relevant information. Mrs Newton-Williams explained: “Once you are logged into the app, you will proceed to the ‘Account’ tab. Click ‘Update’, scan your passport and the app will pick up the embedded information from the passport, such as your NIB information and your date of birth details.

“As soon as this is done, your account is officially active. All of your past forms are saved in the comfort of your account if you choose to pay through the cashier in-house. They also have the ability to e-mail your receipts to the account holder.” The platform will allow users to submit declarations and pay Customs fees prior to their arrival in The Bahamas, with payments made online or at the airport.

Mrs Newton-Williams said: “To complete a declaration in exempt you have to select the form C-17. Full out all your aircraft information. Select your items from a drop down list and their values. Upload your invoices. Decide if you wish to use an exemption or not, and then you have the option to pay online through the app.

“Or you can submit, and once you get to your destination, access the cashier in the hall. Once you have arrived at Customs you’ll pick up your checked bags and just proceed to the next available Customs officer. The officers will pull up your paid declarations via a QR code, verify your items and, once everything is correct, you’re allowed to proceed to the exit.”

The Customs official also detailed the advantages of using the app, including a duty rate search and a digital shopping list. Mrs Newton-Williams said: “The app will calculate your duties based on what you input and fees. And if you use an exemption, it will automatically take the exemption from the higher-rated items. Travellers can now search duty rates on the app. You can do this by using our duty search option.

“If not found, we also have a help desk option where you can actually request the rate and it will be added to the app in real time. Shopping lists feature..... with this feature, you can actually scan your items while you’re in-store. When you scan the items, the items are added to a virtual shopping list on the app.

“When you finish shopping, you can sort through the items and add the items you wish to add to your declaration. There’s an option to change the language of the app from English to one of the following - Creole, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.”

Customs plans to establish kiosks for persons that need assistance navigating the new system, which is estimated to save passengers at least 30 minutes during the arrivals process.

“We hope to ensure that all of the ports are equipped with at least one kiosk. And these kiosks will be to assist persons who may not have a mobile device, or who may just need help. It is our intention for everyone to use the app. We do hope to have some assistance for those persons in the future,” Mrs Newton-Williams said. “Although that would depend on how busy the hall is, I do feel that it will save at least maybe half an hour.”