THE Division of Customs Services has approved the applications of 294 importers who want to be considered “low-risk” importers, Customs Director Jose Mafnas said on Wednesday.
Public Law 21-42, which Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed earlier this year, requires importers to pay excise tax upon clearing Customs. But it also allows Customs to grant qualified low-risk importers a minimum deferred payment grace period of 30 days.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mafnas said since the enactment of the new excise tax law, over 300 importers have applied for “low-risk” status. As of last week, he said, Customs approved 294 applications.
He said these 294 importers are the frequent importers who have never violated the law and are always on time when paying excise tax. Those importers whose applications were rejected are delinquent taxpayers, he said.
Mafnas said Customs evaluates the applications thoroughly. He noted that delinquent importers paid their outstanding arrears when they applied for low-risk status. The Customs chief said they accepted the payments, but it didn’t mean they would approve these applications.
He said these former delinquent importers still have to prove themselves first before Customs would consider them low-risk importers.
“The importers whose applications were disapproved were those who were called by Customs review officers 15 to 20 times and never answered and never showed up to pay their tax. Now that the law kicks in, some are coming out, thinking that by settling their arrears they will get approved,” Mafnas said.
He added that the low-risk importers who are compliant with the new law are happy with it because they consider it fair.
Jose Mafnas
