The Tribune

CUSTOMS is cracking down on Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) licensees who fail to submit regular reports to it on bonded goods purchases, Tribune Business was told yesterday. Aiming to eliminate tax evasion and fraud, the Department said licensees wishing to receive a bonded letter from Customs permitting them to purchase duty-free, over-the-counter bonded goods in 2012 must have submitted their CI4A form declaring this year's bonded goods purchases. Lincoln Strachan, assistant comptroller of Customs, told Tribune Business: "If you wish to purchase out of bond from another licensee, that is done through a open letter from Customs. Entering into the New Year, all persons asking for a renewal of the open letter have to let us know what purchases they made this year. "When we issued the blanket letter, that was conditional upon the person submitting each month what they purchased, as what they purchased they may not have been entitled to purchase. "If you were importing the item we would have the ability to stop you at the border; we don't have that ability with over-the-counter goods. The onus is on the individual, and the majority of persons are submitting their CI4 A form." Mr Strachan added: "There are a few who are not doing so. They could have done it deliberately or it could have been an oversight. You can't expect to buy bonded goods and you are not telling us what you purchased. "You can't expect for another year for an open ended letter and you are not complying. We are asking those persons who did not submit to please submit. "We are not saying that you cannot purchase goods.We are mindful that businesses need to operate. Failing to sumbit the form, any over-the-counter purchases would have to be by way of individual purchase order, approved by Customs."