The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has signed an agreement with the Australian-funded Market Development Facility to support the digitalization of the clearance system for Fiji’s yachting industry.

The online portal, which will be designed by FRCS, builds on its existing Automated Systems of Customs Data(ASYCUDA) infrastructure and aims to bolster the Fijian Government’s ‘Blue Lanes’ initiative.

Once complete, the portal will facilitate the timely yachting clearance and information coordination with relevant agencies, including compliance with all Covid-19 safety protocols that have been put in place.

According to FRCS, the new partnership with the Market Development Facility (MDF), fills a vital role in facilitating industry consultation during the critical development and testing stages for the new portal.

The new integrated system will allow key yachting stakeholders, including marinas, yachting agents, border and government agencies to access timely and accurate information in one place.

In order to develop a portal that is robust and relevant, we will need the input of all these key stakeholders. We are very grateful to the Australian Government through MDF, for supporting us in these efforts.

Under the new agreement, MDF will also provide technical and marketing support to FRCS, including the development of an instructional video on how to navigate the portal, compliance with FRCS requirements, and an awareness campaign for the yachting sector.

“The portal development was a key recommendation of the 2018 Economic Impact of International Yachting in Fiji Report to help strengthen Fiji’s reputation as a regional yachting destination and it is even more relevant now given the success of Fiji’s ‘Blue Lanes’. We are glad to work with FRCS to support this initiative and subsequently the recovery efforts and growth of Fiji’s tourism industry,” said MDF Country Director, Malcolm Bossley.

According to the 2018 Economic Impact of International Yachting in Fiji Report, the yachting industry contributed approximately FJD60 million annually to the Fiji economy.

With the closure of international borders due to COVID-19 and the suspension of commercial air travel to Fiji, yachting has now become the key means of tourism revenue and employment for the country. Under the Blue Lanes, over 100 yachts visited Fiji in 2020.

For further information, please email publicrelations@frcs.org.fj or bilitaki.lovo@thepalladiumgroup.com or call mobile 777 2063.

Australia has contributed over $100,000 worth of IT equipment to support Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) with their sea and air cargo targeting capabilities. The IT equipment delivered this week will significantly enhance the connectivity between risks systems as well as support Fiji’s ability to analyze large trade data sets to identify high-risk consignments.

Through the delivery of this equipment, Fiji plans to establish modern targeting and profiling capabilities to minimise the use of cargo and other means of transportation for drug trafficking, transnational organized criminal activities and other forms of illegal trade to ensure facilitation of legitimate trade and promote secured global trade supply chain.

This funding has been made available through the Border Security Assistance Package as part of the Fiji-Australia Vuvale partnership.

Since the launch of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Program (CCP) in August 2020, Australian representatives in Fiji have worked with FRCS to build an IT infrastructure that supports the targeting and profiling efforts of the FRCS National Border Cargo Targeting Centre (NBCTC). 

FRCS acknowledges the valuable support from the Australian Government through the Australian Border Force (ABF).

The modern technology and equipment will provide FRCS the ability to profile and target sea and air cargo shipments for the risk of illicit trade and revenue frauds. The officers seconded to these units are supported with mentoring sessions and training conducted through the WCO-UNODC Container Control Program which is sponsored by the Australia Border Force.

Australia recognizes that as a central hub for the movement of people and cargo through the Pacific, Fiji plays a fundamental role in the movement of sea and air cargo across the Pacific region.

The operations of these units are centered around the virtual border and the IT equipment donated by the Australian government will greatly enhance the capability of these units in having real-time access to advance critical cargo information and systems. Since the establishment of these units, there have been over 50 successful interceptions, including methamphetamine, weapons, cargo of environmental risk, illicit medicines and other border security related elements. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of detections related to revenue evasion, leading to financial penalties that support Fiji’s economy. 

With our pre-screening capabilities, and this donation, our capability to detect, dismantle and disrupt illicit importation and organized crime syndicates is enhanced and we can support legitimate trade to help Fiji grow. Our Customs to Customs partnership today has been strengthened with this collaboration and serves to promote Coordinated Border Management.  

For further information, please contact on 1326 or email on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) would like to alert members of the public on the fake Facebook and WhatsApp messages requesting payments to clear Customs charges before their goods are released. 

FRCS is concerned that despite numerous awareness on this issue, people are still continuing to become susceptible to such scams and are losing thousands of dollars in the process.

Information gathered by FRCS revealed that a number of Fijians are being tricked through fake Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger requests advising them that the goods they have imported were being held by Customs and that they need to pay customs clearance fees into numerous local bank accounts that are being provided by the scammers through social media. 

This money is then withdrawn from bank accounts by swindlers and remitted through the post office to their partners.  

FRCS would like to clarify that payment for customs clearance is only done at FRCS counters and through the FRCS bank account. FRCS will never ask anyone through Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger to make payments. If people receive such requests, they should call FRCS Hotline number 1326 or email us at info@frcs.org.fj for verification before remitting the funds.  

Members of the public and social media users need to be vigilant and avoid not becoming prey to such type of fraudulent activities. It is important for people to be aware of the scam activities that are happening. 

FRCS is advising people to verify with FRCS when they receive any requests for customs payments through Facebook or WhatsApp before making any payments. They can report to the Fiji Police Force or the Consumer Council of this scam.  Also, if people receive calls that their goods have arrived and they don’t know the person calling, they should request the Bill of lading /Airway bill copy or reference number and check with FRCS-Customs Division if the goods have arrived before paying the customs duty as requested by the caller.  

For further information, please contact on 1326 or email on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) is urging taxpayers to use the Taxpayer Online Service to lodge tax return due and make online payments. This call comes amid FRCS’s response to the imminent threat posed by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the national health restrictions pertaining to the pandemic placed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. 

Month-end is usually the busiest period for FRCS as hundreds people visit FRCS Offices to lodge tax returns and make due payments. However, FRCS encourages taxpayers to conduct their business online through our digital platforms available. 

Taxpayers can lodge their Company Income Tax (CIT) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) returns which are due at the end of this month electronically through email lodgement@frcs.org.fj. FRCS will acknowledge receipt through email. 

All Customs Agent and Traders are also urged to use the prepayment account (PPD) and online payment facility for the payment of the Customs Duties. 

We usually experience a rush and long queues at all our Offices on the final due day for lodgments and payments at the end of every month. To keep our workplaces, employees and customers safe and avoid overcrowding at the Offices, we would like to advise those taxpayers who cannot access our online services and must visit our Offices to conduct their business manually to spread out their visit from Monday to Friday next week. 

Taxpayers visiting FRCS Offices must activate the careFiji app on their mobile phones, if not then provide their contact details to our security or Officer before entering our Officers. They are also requested to adhere to the health protocols by wearing face masks, comply with temperature checks and practice social distancing when visiting FRCS Offices. 

We acknowledge all for understanding that these measures are implemented to ensure safety of our employees and customers. 

Please contact FRCS on 3243000 or 1326 or tpos@frcs.org.fj or info@frcs.org.fj, for any assistance or queries on Taxpayer Online Services. 

For further information, please email publicrelations@frcs.org.fj. 

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) announced today that all tax processes will be available online by August 2021.  The Service is also urging all taxpayers who have not yet signed up for the Taxpayer Online Services to do so.

FRCS made the above announcement amid preparation for roll-out of the remaining processes online which will take place each month from May to July 2021.

The complete list of the processes to be implemented from May to July 2021 is available on https://www.frcs.org.fj/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Implementation-of-new-services.pdf

The full implementation of FRCS services online will be a significant milestone and achievement for the Service and a demonstration of its commitment to be a contemporary service oriented Organisation.

FRCS will continue with education and awareness efforts on all the new and existing processes implemented online.

We also acknowledge the participation and thank businesses, accounting firms, tax agents and individual taxpayers for their feedback and input on our online tax processes which has been invaluable to the development and design process to ensure an optimal customer experience.

In March and April, FRCS held talanoa sessions in Suva and in Nadi with users of the Taxpayer Online Services to gather their views on what’s working well and what’s not with the new online system.  The open and interactive net-working session with a total of 154 participants allowed FRCS and the users to have an open two-way dialogue on matters impacting them as well as resolve arising issues.

To date, 44,640 people have signed on the Taxpayer Online Services.

“We can see a change in behaviour in how taxpayers interact with us as more taxpayers are using the online portal. The roll-out of new processes online in the past months have seen an increasing number of taxpayers filing returns online,” Mr. Vuto said.

In light of the current COVID 19 situation, having these online services will very beneficial to private and business customers who will want to use our services remotely. Taxpayers are encouraged to sign up on the online portal. Information and videos on how to sign up for the online portal is available on  – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OLHhx-2SpE.  

Taxpayers are also encouraged to update their information online related to change in their personal, business or bank details, change in address or change in contact to ensure that all their information are current and accurate. This will allow FRCS to provide enhanced services to its customers. Taxpayers can update their information on https://www.frcs.org.fj/myportals/new-taxpayer-online-portal/

Mr. Vuto encouraged all taxpayers to access the online services and to contact FRCS on 3243000 or 1326 or tpos@frcs.org.fj or  info@frcs.org.fj, for any assistance or queries on Taxpayer Online Services.

For further information, please email publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) is increasing its online service offering with the automation of new processes from the first week of March 2021.

The new services that will be available on the Taxpayer Online Services (TPOS) are;

• Resident Interest Withholding Tax (RIWT) filing,
• Rental Annual Report (RAR) filing,
• Taxpayer Request (TPR) for Lodging Personal Income Tax (Salary & Wage Earner) Return 
• TPR for Concessionary Tax Rate 
• TPR for Extension of Time to Pay 
• TPR for Extension of Time to File 
• Change of Circumstances (COC) for Depreciation Method.

To ensure smooth implementation of RIWT filing on TPOS, taxpayers who have bank accounts but have not submitted their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to their respective banks are reminded to do so at the earliest.

All licensed Real Estate Agents are also reminded to lodge their 2020 RARs that is due by end of February on TPOS from 1^st March 2021.

Customers, who wish to access these services will therefore no longer have to physically visit the FRCS Office, but will be able to simply log on http://mytpos.frs.org.fj to the TPOS and apply.

“We can see a change in behavior in how taxpayers interact with us with more taxpayers using the portal. The recent go live on February 2, had over 500 returns filed in the first week alone for Provisional Tax and PAYE” said the Acting CEO, Mr. Jonetani Vuto.

Taxpayers are encouraged to use online services and to update their information related to a change in taxpayer position, situation, or status on TPOS to ensure it is current and accurate. This will allow FRCS to enhance its services to its customers. Taxpayers can update their information on https://www.frcs.org.fj/myportals/new-taxpayer-online-portal/

Members of the public can also access tutorial and webinar videos on the online processes of the various tax types on https://www.frcs.org.fj/ourservices/taxpayer-online-service-tpos/tpos-tutorial-videos/andhttps://www.frcs.org.fj/our-services/taxpayer-online-service-tpos/webinarsessions/ . FRCS also encouraged all taxpayers to contact FRCS on 1326 or info@frcs.org.fj , should they require any assistance on Taxpayer Online Services. For further information, please email publicrelations@frcs.org.fj .