The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Customs said yesterday it will start to phase-out the manual submission of importer and broker documents as of June 1, its Comptroller adding that it hoped to implement electronic duty payments by year-end.

Charles Turner said Customs had effectively worked out all the kinks in its system, and was now satisfied it would be able to facilitate electronic submissions.

Mr Turner said brokers and commercial importers in Nassau would be required to submit their manifest and declarations electronically, as well as others who choose to do so.

“We would have been working with the business community for the last two years. We would have had some challenges. We are now satisfied with the system. It is a benefit to commercial and non-commercial importers. The time to clear entries will be significantly reduced,” said Mr Turner.

“Once a person has submitted their declarations electronically, you will be in Customs no longer than five minutes. Hopefully, by year’s-end importers would be able to pay their duty on-line.”

Mr Turner said that the department had met its projections for revenue intake for the first three months of 2014, though he was unable to disclose how much Customs had taken in for the Government.

He added that Customs was continuing is crackdown to address leakages. “With respect to leakages, we still have smuggling going on. The enforcement efforts are ongoing,” Mr Turner said.

“Invoice fraud is a major issue with the Customs Department. As a matter of fact, we have a post-importation review section who deals solely with invoice fraud. Invoice fraud is a major issue. We have the capacity and the officers to determine whether invoices are true or not, and we also have he co-operation from the US authorities who assist us in providing the correct invoices.”