Lobito - The General Tax Administration (AGT), on Thursday in Lobito city, began contacts with operators in the trade chain with the aim to clarify and share ideas about the impact of the new customs tariff.
According to the head of the Customs Services, Wilbert Assunção, the work will be extended to the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Cuanza Sul, that comprises the Fourth Tax Region of the country.
Speaking to the press in the scope of the meeting with the operators, the official said that the biggest concern of traders is linked to bureaucracy in the processes of import and export of products.
"The customs process requires some procedures that exclude several documents, such as original invoices, licensing, cargo manifest and others, which can be handled by the computer system through scanned copies.
According to the technician, these documents depend on other companies, which causes some delay in completing the process.
He stated that “Official Dispatchers are AGT’s representatives in the process of importing and exporting goods and they are informed about all processes”.
However, the operators presented specific questions such as the worsening of the basic basket products tax, taking into account national production, as well as the mess that is faced during the import of motorbikes with invoices that attest to 50 cylinders, when in reality the vehicle has more than this capacity.
One of the traders mentioned that for the circulation of 50-cylinder motorcycles, the local administration in coordination with the National Police's Roads and Traffic Department does not require a driving license, but rather a vehicle driving license.
“This situation has encouraged many unfit drivers who are unaware of the highway code to drive through the city’s arteries, causing many accidents, including fatal ones,” he said.
The customs technician responded to several concerns from commercial operators, highlighting the benefits presented by the new Customs Tariff, which was approved in December 20203 and came into force in March this year.
According to Wilvert Assunção, the new Customs Tariff has around 2.000 products and of these, more than 100 are exempt from paying duties, as a tax incentive.
He stated that the State cannot exempt products without prior analysis because it is through those who acquire revenue, including from sectors such as Education and Health, which are very important for the social sector.
As a result, identify new production areas. He gave an example of the authorization of agricultural equipment, such as the import of a truck, which in the previous agenda paid 30% and today pays half of that cost.
He revealed that AGT wants to reduce the inspections that are currently carried out in importers' warehouses because of the risks they entail. If the merchandise has an irregular situation, it is already in the importer's space.
The official took the opportunity to announce that, from now on, motor vehicle inspections will be carried out jointly by AGT and the National Police's Road and Traffic Department, within the port area.
AGT is responsible for proposing the tax policy of the Angolan State, managing taxes, customs duties and others, during the execution of the general lines of fiscal years. TC/CRB/MRA/DOJ
