FRCS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS), the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF), and the Fiji Ports Terminal Limited successfully conducted the Time Release Study (TRS) at the Suva and Lautoka sea ports to measure the time taken for the release and clearance of imported goods. The TRS is a method developed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to measure Customs performance in clearing international vessels, aircraft and cargoes. It is an important aspect to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of border procedures and enhance ease of doing business.

Click on this link to access the National Time Release Study 2023 https://frcs.org.fj/our-services/customs/national-time-release-study-report-2023/.

“FRCS is strongly committed to maintain its focus as being a customer centric organisation and we have undertaken several initiatives on this,” FRCS CEO, Mr. Udit Singh mentioned this while opening our newly renovated and upgraded office in Sigatoka.

According to Mr. Singh, the upgrading and renovation of the Sigatoka office is an addition to FRCS’s commitment to provide excellent customer service.

“Our well-designed Sigatoka Office does not only convey professionalism and competence but also sends the message that we take our business seriously and are committed to providing a high-quality experience for your customers,” he stated.

FRCS office in Sigatoka has a self-service kiosk for our customers to access our services. Additionally, other improvements have been made in the office which would greatly impact on our efforts further enhance our customer engagement and experience.

“All our visitors should know that our purpose is “helping Fiji grow” and our strategic ambition is to “be a trusted, efficient, service-driven tax administration that minimises the tax gap and maintains the protection of Fiji’s borders for the prosperity of the people of Fiji”, Mr. Singh stated.

In addition to the Sigatoka Office, FRCS has also completed renovations and upgrading to its offices at the Suva and Lautoka wharfs and also in Rakiraki.

Our Chief Customs Officer, Mr. Mohammed Shameem was invited by the Fiji Police Force to conduct customer service awareness for the border police at the Nadi Airport.

Customer Service awareness and training is critical to improving interactions with visitors and facilitate better communication to create a more welcoming and efficient experience for travelers.

Mr. Shameem covered vital topics such as the principles of customer service, effective communication techniques, polite and friendly alternatives and the importance of great customer service.

It was an interactive session, and the participants appreciated the value and knowledge gained from the awareness.

Our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) team continued conducting trainings for the MSMEs on bookkeeping, online payments, basic tax, registration of taxes, financial literacy, Taxpayer Online Service (TPOS), Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), and provisional taxes.

 The provision of tax training to MSMEs is critical as we realise that a lack of understanding of the tax system can contribute to non-compliance. Training can help MSMEs enhance their knowledge of tax processes and improve voluntary compliance.

FRCS has a dedicated Support Centre for MSMEs to assist them with their tax obligations through free advisory services, mentoring, training and support. We encourage more MSMEs to take advantage of the free services and assistance provided by the FRCS.

For more information on training and assistance for MSMEs, please contact our team on 3243000 or 1326 or email at msme@frcs.org.fj.

Our team appeared on FBC’s Domo-ni-Vanua and Drishtikon radio talk-back shows this week to create awareness on various pertinent issues related to tax. Our team explained in detail the importance of the Taxpayer Online Service (TPOS), the different tax services on TPOS, how can these services be accessed and the benefits of TPOS.

We have been appearing on radio talk-back shows regularly as part of our continued education and awareness programs. FRCS aims to provide taxpayers with information that would empower them to have a basic understanding of the various tax types, how these taxes work and what is expected of taxpayers in order to be compliant.

The talk-back shows were very interactive, and our team answered all queries raised on the live program. We offer free tax educational programs on a wide range of tax and customs topics. Should you require assistance with this, please contact us on 3243000 or 1326 or email at info@frcs.org.fj.

Our CEO, Mr. Udit Singh, Chief of Staff & Director Corporate Services, Mr. Shavindra Nath and Director Compliance, Ms. Kelerayani Dawai attended the 21^st Pacific Islands Tax Administration Association (PITAA) Annual Heads Meeting held in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

This year’s PITAA Annual Heads Meeting is centered around the theme ‘Navigating Challenging Seas: Charting the Course of Modern Taxation in the Pacific.’  The meeting addressed key issues such as the impact of digitalization on tax systems, regional cooperation, improving revenue mobilization in the Pacific and the capacity development opportunities. Pacific and international delegates discussed and created tailored solutions for the Pacific.

This meeting was organised by the Vanuatu Department of Customs and Inland Revenue in coordination with the PITAA Secretariat.

Our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) team was thrilled to see so many small business owners taking advantage of the assistance provided by them in tax and customs related issues during the MSME Community Day held at the Suva Flea Market today.  

Through  the FRCS MSME Community Day, our MSME teams set up mobile booths in locations dominated by the small business operators to allow them to access our services without much hinderance to their business. This is also a great opportunity for our team to build partnerships and listen to the concerns and suggestions from MSMEs which helps us better serve our MSME community.

During the day we assisted several MSMEs on a number of issues including signing up on the Taxpayer Online Service (TPOS) portal, lodgement of income tax returns, applying for tax compliance certificates, tax registrations, and attending to their  tax and customs related queries.

FRCS also has MSME Support Centre which provides free-of-charge service to assist MSMEs to understand their tax obligations and become compliant.

We encourage MSMEs that need assistance in tax and customs-related issues to contact us at 3243000 or 1326 or email at msme@frcs.org.fj.

We were pleased to partner with the Fiji Enterprise Engine (FEE) to conduct awareness on tax regulatory requirements for businesses in Fiji for their Suva cohort. FEE is a business accelerator programme that is designed to scale up established Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It is housed under the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF).

The three-hour interactive training covered various topics including the Taxpayer Online Service (TPOS), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and tax registration, taxpayer obligations, lodgement, calculation and payment of taxes, incentives, record keeping, different types of supplies and amendments to the 2024/2025 National Budget.

Each topic was presented comprehensively, and the participants left the training equipped with a deeper understanding of Fiji’s tax landscape and skills to navigate tax compliance effectively.