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The Customs & Excise Division is planning a crackdown on importers who undervalue their products.
Acting Comptroller of Customs Philmore Williams said the move will come as part of the Customs Renewal Information Process.
The ongoing process involves the training of staff to deal with valuation and invoices to identify such discrepancies.
Williams said despite not having actual statistics to show the frequency of such violations, he is confident that it is commonplace.
“To provide quantifiable data (on under-invoicing) we probably need a decent computer system that can do that. What we have presently I don’t think has the capability to actually quantify. What we do is keep that information every time we come across these things so we could eventually quantify it,” Williams said.
Williams said he recognises that an increasing number of residents are shopping on-line and from non-traditional sources, which could sometimes account for perceived under-invoicing but that most instances were still a case of blatant attempts to deceive.
“That is always a challenge and it is difficult to tell when the value is correct. We are aware and have found instances where the information on the invoices has been false,” Williams said.
The acting comptroller said in the absence of verifiable data, the department bases their valuations on past similar imports.
“We base our evaluation on sampling of what would have come through the system previously, and we look for consistency in those evaluations. So if we see if there is one of a similar year, all things considered, including the condition of the vehicle, then we are able to make a determination as to whether the value should be adjusted,” Williams said.
I always get a chuckle, whenever I read about customs and their crack downs. What they never seem to include, is the cracking down on all of the underhanded deals by some of their officers.I wonder if this is intentionally ignored, or maybe it is so high in the rankin files, it is forbiden to be mentioned.
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Since we are on the topic Mr. Williams, I have a peeve relating to persons returning from vacation, school, camp or whatever. People who come home with suitcases or send barrels.
How are you going to tell people that an invoice they receive from the company they have ordered from is not legitimate. Especially when you have no means to verify the information. Or the info at hand is old or obsolete. Additionally, people do buy things on SALE. Yes sale. You can actually get things for $10, $5, $1, and even less. What happens when you have been living away for a while and you come back with things and you have you receipt, or sometimes you don’t because you have it for a long time but have not used it . An officer will tell you it’s not worth what is on the receipt.
It works both ways. What about when an officer lets through his or her friends and then the person who comes after has to pay for those that got away free.?
What about the expemption of a particular amout of goods which is stated on the customs form filled out at the airport?
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