The Maldives Customs Service is currently working to introduce a new “simplified declaration” mechanism, which will make import duty payments easier.
Customs’ Superintendent Ali Zubair mentioned this on-air in an SSTV program, noting that the introduction of the “simplified declaration” would enable private citizens to pay duty on their imported goods via their smartphones without involving a broker.
Customs expects the new feature will be fully deployed in the next two months.
Importers, private or business, are currently required to submit a declaration form for the goods they import and pay the import duty, a service that can only be done through a registered broker.
The Customs Superintendent added that this new feature will significantly cut down the time spent on goods import.
“We expect to be able to introduce simplified declaration within the next two months, allowing people to submit information and declare their goods by themselves using their mobile phones without needing to involve a Customs broker or any other party,” Zubair said.
Zubair also highlighted that Customs frequently receives complaints regarding difficulty tracking imported goods. He added that the involvement of broker makes the import process more complicated and noted that failure to declare goods or provide Customs with the proper information on the goods result in delays.
He noted that Customs collect these information to set the price, rank and calculate import duty on the imported goods. Zubair added that the new “simplified declaration” will address many of the complaints the authority received regarding importation.
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