Suspended importers need clearance from BIR

MANILA, Philippines - Importers with suspended accreditation need to apply for an importer’s clearance certificate from the Bureau of Internal Revenue before they can transact again with the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Finance reiterated.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said all requests for the provisional lifting of suspension of importers’ accreditation pending as of December 2013 would be processed and evaluated by the DOF-Fiscal Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The suspensions were due to importers’ failure to comply with documentary requirements of the conduct of audit.

Upon review of the requirements, the DOF-FIU shall make the necessary recommendation to the BOC, which in turn shall decide whether the suspension of accreditation of the importer may be lifted or not, subject to compliance with customs laws, rule and regulations.

The provisional lifting of suspension shall be valid for a period of 60 days from the date the decision of the BOC is received.

Should the prescribed 60-day lifting of the suspension lapse without any further action from the DOF-FIU and/or BOC, the said suspension shall be deemed permanently lifted. This is an improvement from previous rules where importers were required to apply for renewal every 60 days.

The DOF has already formally written the importers concerned to comply with the new rules subjecting them to stringent accreditation and evaluation procedures with the BIR.

The new regulations are aimed at ensuring that only legitimate and honest tax-paying businesses can import goods through the Custom’s ports.

The DOF-FIU has the authority to conduct audit of foreign goods entering the country and ensure that the BOC collects the correct tariff rates and the appropriate amount of import taxes and duties.

The new rules are aimed at plugging revenue leakage arising from smuggling.

Studies show that the government’s forgone revenues amount to over P100 billion every year due to smuggling, affecting its ability to earn and channel funds to deliver basic services.