The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Emily King to its Board of Directors. Her appointment, made in accordance with Section 4 of the FRCS Act 1998, is effective for a three-year term beginning 30th September 2025.

FRCS Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Udit Singh, warmly welcomed Ms. King to the Board, stating: “Ms. King brings a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives that will significantly contribute to the strategic direction and governance of FRCS. Her diverse skill set will strengthen our Board and enhance our ability to deliver on our strategic goals as we continue our journey towards excelling in revenue collection, border protection, and the facilitation of trade and travel.”

Ms. King is a distinguished corporate lawyer with over 15 years of experience in the financial services sector and leading legal firms in Fiji. Her career is marked by excellence in advisory and commercial transactions, and she has successfully led legal teams with integrity and professionalism.

Beyond her legal expertise, Ms. King has extensive experience in Regulatory Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Governance, and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing. She currently serves as General Counsel at the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and finance.

Ms. King is no stranger to boardrooms, having served as Company Secretary and as a member of Board Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committees for various private entities. She has also contributed significantly to industry bodies, including her role as Chairperson of the Insurance Association of Fiji in 2023 and as a Council Member of the Fiji Law Society for three consecutive terms from 2016 to 2021.

She recently completed a Juris Doctor bridging course at the University of Melbourne.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. King said: “I am deeply honoured to join the Board of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and extend my sincere gratitude to the Board and the Minister for Finance for this opportunity. I accept this role with humility and a strong sense of responsibility to the people of Fiji. I am committed to upholding the values of transparency, accountability, and service excellence, and I look forward to working collaboratively with the Board and management to support FRCS in its mission to serve taxpayers and strengthen national revenue systems.”

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) intercepted a foreign-flagged yacht upon its arrival at Savusavu Port this week.

An advance notification of arrival was submitted prior to docking, which was duly assessed for risk indicators. During this assessment, several red flags were identified, prompting FRCS maritime officers to carry out a targeted inspection of the vessel.

The search led to the discovery of two semi-automatic pistols, 30 pieces of C02 cartriage and 1138 pallets that were not declared by the yacht’s skipper. Under Fiji’s Arms and Ammunition Act, all firearms and ammunition are strictly regulated. Permits and licenses are required for the possession of such items, while transit vessels are obligated to declare them in advance.

The matter has since been referred to the Fiji Police Force for further investigation.

FRCS reminds all travelers, including yacht owners and sailors, to make accurate and complete declarations when submitting advance arrival information. Failure to do so will result in enforcement action under the law.

FRCS remains committed to protecting Fiji’s borders and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), in partnership with Data Tech International (DTI), today announced the launch of a new public dashboard for the VAT Monitoring System (VMS). The platform offers citizens and businesses a clear, daily-updated view of Fiji’s fiscalization progress and introduces tools for direct public participation in VAT compliance.

The dashboard, accessible through the FRCS VMS portal, displays indicators refreshed daily, including the number of fiscalized taxpayers and business locations, activated secure elements, recorded sales, invoice volumes, and receipt verifications. Users may filter data by administrative area to understand local trends, while integrated tools allow the public to verify invoices, report when fiscal invoices are not issued, and flag suspicious receipts.

“This launch is both a transparency milestone and a practical step toward fair competition,” said FRCS Chief Executive Officer Mr. Udit Singh. “By expanding VMS coverage to new sectors and opening access to real-time indicators, the public can see progress, understand expectations, and play an active role by verifying receipts. It sends a clear message that the rules apply equally and that honest businesses will not be undercut by non-compliance.”

DTI Chief Executive Officer Mr. Goran Todorov emphasized the system’s accessibility. “DTI is proud to support FRCS with a tested, reliable, and mobile-friendly dashboard designed for every Fijian. By combining daily data, local drill-downs, and easy reporting tools, we strengthen trust in the tax system and support FRCS’s modernization efforts.”

The initiative coincides with FRCS’s phased expansion of VAT monitoring to business sectors previously outside scope, reinforcing a level playing field and ensuring all taxpayers meet their obligations.

What the public can do on the VMS portal:

• Verify whether an invoice is valid (with or without a QR code).
• Report non-issuance of a fiscal invoice.
• Flag suspicious invoices for further review.
• Explore daily VMS metrics and trends, including views by province or area.

FRCS is urging businesses to maintain compliance and encouraging citizens to make use of the portal. “Transparency protects compliant taxpayers, informs smart enforcement, and builds public confidence that the system is fair,” Mr. Singh added.

The Public VAT Monitoring Dashboard is now live and accessible at: https://vms.frcs.org.fj/

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) Maritime Seaport Enforcement Team successfully intercepted 57,740 undeclared cigarette sticks during the last financial year. Cigarettes are classified as highly dutiable goods and are often smuggled by seafarers upon arrival at ports of entry.

Revenue leakage occurs when such goods are not declared at the time of arrival with the intent to evade lawful payment of import duties. These practices undermine government revenue, which is vital for sustaining national development.

FRCS enforcement officers remain steadfast in their commitment to detecting, intercepting, and preventing illegal activities to protect revenue collection and ensure full compliance with customs laws and regulations.

We strongly urge all travellers, seafarers, and shipping agents to make honest and accurate declarations of their goods upon arrival. Non-compliance will result in penalties and legal action under the applicable laws.

FRCS will continue to strengthen border control measures and safeguard government revenue, ensuring it supports the sustainable growth and development of our nation.

FRCS Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Udit Singh, stated:

“This interception is another reminder of the crucial role FRCS plays in protecting Fiji’s borders and safeguarding government revenue. Smuggling not only deprives the nation of much-needed funds for development, but also undermines fairness for compliant taxpayers and businesses. We remain fully committed to enforcing our laws and will continue to adopt stronger measures to ensure integrity and compliance across all ports of entry.”