In keeping with the Budget Measures recently announced for 2022 and His Excellency, The President’s directive on relief for freight charges, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) wishes to inform the general public that the relief is extended to December 31, 2022.
This relief is for freight charges used in the calculation of duties and taxes on imported goods, to be revised to pre-pandemic levels, subject to the following conditions.
- The invoice must be dated on or after August 1, 2021.
- This measure is to be used in the calculation of duties and taxes for FREIGHT purposes ONLY.
- The invoices must be at an FOB level, or the FOB position must be clearly stated on the invoice for valuation checks in keeping with the Fifth Schedule.
- The Relief is granted for the reduction of freight to the pre-pandemic level of March 31, 2020, and will only apply if the actual freight charges paid is higher than the pre-pandemic rate as outlined in the average freight rates below:
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN @ March 31, 2021 | AVERAGE 20’ FREIGHT US$ | AVERAGE 40’ FREIGHT US$ |
| CANADA | $2,300 | $2,800 |
| CARIBBEAN | $900 | $1,500 |
| CHINA | $2,800 | $3,400 |
| EUROPEAN UNION | $2,200 | $2,800 |
| INDIA / PAKISTAN | $2,800 | $3,400 |
| JAPAN | $3,100 | $3,800 |
| PANAMA / CURACAO | $1,800 | $2,800 |
| THAILAND,SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| TURKEY | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | $2,800 | $4,200 |
| UNITED STATES | $2,600 | $3,200 |
| BRAZIL | $2,420 | $4,320 |
| COLOMBIA | $1,486 | $2,600 |
- Countries/ regions not specifically mentioned above will be reviewed on a country basis when the Declaration is submitted and/or when the audit checks are conducted.
- Any other condition approved by the Commissioner- General will be communicated to the general public.
The measure is intended to provide relief so that the benefits can be passed on to the consumers. As such, the FOB values declared on invoices will be reviewed, cross-referenced, and applied by the Customs, Excise & Trade Operations (CE&TO) based on the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Fifth Schedule to the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01 for consistency.
Should unscrupulous importers seek to manipulate the system for tax evasion, they will penalized in accordance with existing legislation. In this regard, the Central Revenue Protection Unit (CPRU), Post Clearance Audit Unit (PCAU), and Law Enforcement & Investigations Division (LEID) driven by a Risk Management System will verify the accuracy and authenticity of declared particulars and taxes paid in keeping with law.
In this regard, GRA is urging importers to be compliant and supply the correct invoices to the Authority. Importers are further implored to pass such savings on the consuming public. The GRA again advises that those found non-compliant will be subjected to additional taxes/fines/penalties and imprisonment upon conviction.
Should further clarification be needed, please contact the CE&TO on telephone no: 227-6060.
Godfrey Statia
Commissioner-General
