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Frequently Asked Questions
I am a St. Lucian national who has been studying overseas for the past 5 years. I will be returning home with all my personal effects upon my completion. What relief of duty am I entitled to?
A returning national who has resided abroad for ten yrs or more is entitled to a range of benefits as outlined in Statutory Instrument # 1 and Statutory Instrument # 2 of 1999. However in the case of someone who has resided overseas for five years an exemption of import duty on used personal and household effects is permissible under the list of conditional duty exemptions as outlined in the Common External Tariff (CET).
My stereo is damaged and I am returning it to the manufacturer for repairs. How do I avoid paying duties on this appliance a second time?
Customs Officials must record any item being exported for repairs at the point of export. Upon re-importation of the any duties to be paid will be assessed on the cost of repairs.
I ordered some educational tapes and software for my son to help him with his grades. Are there any exemptions of duties in place for me?
There are no specific provisions in place for exemption of duties on these items, however individual cases may be referred to the Ministry of Education for special consideration.
Am I permitted to import a few fruits, vegetables and plant trimmings with me when I return from vacation?
Fruits and vegetables must be detained by Customs for inspection by Quarantine Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture. It is those officers who determine whether your fruits or vegetables are permitted to enter the country.
I am expecting a package from a courier company and I need to clear it ASAP. Can you advise me on how best to proceed?
Most courier services offer their clients a clearance facility by which they undertake to pay the relevant duties on the imported items provided that such sums are recoverable upon delivery of the goods. The clearing agent must be specifically authorised by importer to clear such goods on his /her behalf.
Is there anything wrong with me using my girlfriend’s airline ticket to buy some duty free things for myself?
Yes. Only bonafide passengers are entitled to make duty free purchases and they must sign a declaration to undertake to export the item purchased. Persons found to be making illegal purchases may be penalised under Customs law.
How long can I keep my goods in the cargo shed before clearing it and are there any extra charges for that?
Generally goods are kept in the transit sheds for a period of three months (approximately 90 days) after which they are advertised for sale by public auction. The transit sheds are managed by the St. Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) who charge rent on packages that remain in the shed beyond the initial grace period of five days.
I noticed my name in the Gazette for an uncleared package at the post
office, which will be auctioned soon. Is it too late to clear my package
and what must I do?
The purpose of the advertisement in the Official Gazette is to advise persons of the intention to sell packages that have remained uncleared beyond the statutory period of three months. These goods may be cleared anytime before the actual sale takes place provided that the customs duties and other relevant charges are paid.
What are the duties chargeable on goods and how do you calculate them?
Customs duties are based on the rates stipulated in the Common External Tariff, and other schedules in force. In general duty is calculated as a percentage of the customs value (ad valorem) although there are some items that attract a specific charge. Customs value for duty purposes is based on the transaction value of the goods determined according to the rules of the WTO/GATT Valuation system.
I am a foreign national who is thinking of moving to St. Lucia with all my personal effects. What am I entitled to?
A person taking up residence in St. Lucia is entitled to a waiver of import duty in accordance with the List of Conditional Duty Exemptions as contained in the Common External tariff (CET). Generally this applies only to personal and household effects that have been in the possession and use of the individual for over one year.
I would like to import a 1995 motorcycle and a 1996 car into St. Lucia but I heard that there are age restrictions. Can you explain what these are?
There
are no import restrictions as such on used vehicles however these items
are subjected to an environmental levy that varies according to the
age of the vehicle as follows:
New vehicles - $1000.00
Used vehicles:
Up to 2 yrs - $ 6000.00
Over 2yrs – 4yrs – $ 9000.00
Over 4 yrs - $12000.00
I am bringing in some toiletries for sale and I was told that the duty might vary according to the classification of these items. Can you provide an explanation for this?
Toiletries
include a range of items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, facial cleaners,
etc which are classifiable under different headings in the HS Classification
system. The items would therefore attract the rate applicable to the
relevant HS heading.
I am returning to for my aunt’s funeral and I would like to know
how much liquor that I am allowed to bring into the country?
A
passenger is entitled to a duty free allowance (once a year) of 40 ozs
of spirits
(whisky, rum or gin), however any liquor in excess of that amount is
liable to the payment of customs duties.
I would like to purchase a pet poodle on my trip to Barbados. Is there anything I need to know before I do so?
It would be advisable to check with the Animal Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Agriculture for expert advice concerning the importation of live animals. Generally there are strict provisions in place that require the production of health certificates and other quarantine documents.
I am in the process of purchasing furniture in Guyana for my new home. I was told that I could pay less duty if I present my CARICOM documents. What are these documents and how do I get them?
A Certificate of Origin and proper invoices must support goods made within CARICOM in order to benefit from CARICOM treatment (import duty waiver). These documents are obtained from the exporter of the goods and the relevant certifying authority in the country of origin must sign the certificate of origin. (Guyana in this case)
My goods got pilfered in Shed# 5. Would I still have to pay duty on the entire consignment? Who is responsible for my loss?
If it can be established that your goods landed in proper condition and were subsequently pilfered after arrival in the state, then the full customs duties are payable. Any claim for loss must be made to the St. Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority who is in charge of your cargo during its period of storage in the cargo shed.
My personal effects will be arriving soon in a container. Who do I need
to see and what should I bring with me?
It would be advisable to secure the services of a Customs Broker who is familiar with the system. The clearance of a container involves dealing with several persons including the ship’s agent, the Customs and the Port Authority. From a customs standpoint you will be required to attend an interview with the Supervisor Cargo Control Unit where your will be required to make an initial declaration of the contents of the container and choose from a variety of options for the clearance of the container.
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My uncle sent a refrigerator as a gift. I have been unable to reach
to find out how much it cost. How will customs deal with a situation
like that?
The WTO/GATT agreement provides a systematic method for arriving at the value of goods in such situations. In short it allows the customs to follow a set of rules using comparative values of identical or similar goods to arrive at an appropriate vale for duty purposes.
The last time I imported goods I was able to pay the duty on a receipt. This time the officer is telling me, that I need to prepare a customs entry. When are those requirements necessary?
An entry is required for commercial goods exceeding a value of EC $2500.00. Goods of a non commercial nature and deemed to be for private use may be duty paid on a receipt regardless of the value.
I came in on a flight yesterday and I was caught with some false invoices.
The officer seized my goods and now I must see the Preventive officer.
What are the penalties for such an offence?
The
presentation of false invoices to Customs is a serious offence that
carries a maximum penalty of ten thousand dollars; imprisonment of up
to two years and the goods in question may be forfeited. The circumstances
of the case will determined the level of penalty to be imposed.
If you have any further queries, we encourage you to email us at webmaster@customsslu.com
