The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (Revenue & Customs) rolled out Fiji’s first Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Pilot launch this morning. This initiative is about global supply chain security and trade facilitation under the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement.

The seven AEO Pilot members are Biscuit Company of Fiji Limited, Central Manufacturing Company Limited, Hard Rock Café (Fiji) Limited, KIA Motors Limited, Natural Waters of Viti Limited, Victus Limited t/a Burger King and Vodafone (Fiji) Limited.

Chief Guest, Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das announced the names of these seven members at the Revenue & Customs Complex in Nasese.

“This is indeed a great milestone achievement for Fiji Revenue and Customs Service to implement the AEO framework with you and of course our partnership engagement is fruitful to achieve this milestone,” Mr. Das said while welcoming the members.

“High trade volumes makes it difficult for Customs administrations to examine and verify each and every package going out of country or coming in. The AEO programme guidelines and procedures ensures the security and safety of the country or region through regularizing the flow of goods,” he added.

Mr. Das said the AEO programme will provide members international recognition of their commitment for secure trade.

The programme is also an expansion of the existing Gold Card initiative into the international market through a framework of standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE Framework) of the World Customs Organisation.

Benefits for AEO members include measures to expedite cargo release, reduce transit time and lower storage costs, providing access to information of value to AEO participants, special measures relating to periods of trade disruption or elevated threat level and first consideration for participation in any cargo processing programmes.

Mr. Das also welcomed new and existing partners: Air Terminal Services, Biosecurity Authority Fiji, Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, Department of Immigration, Fiji Airways, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, Ministry of Health, Lands Transport Authority, Ports Terminal Limited and Fiji Airports Limited and thanked them for their critical partnership for success of these national initiatives.

“AEO members will be eligible for privilege services at any port of entry,” he said.

The AEO programme will be officially launched on 25^th January, 2019.

A team of six (6) officials from the Korea Customs Service are in the country to enhance collaboration efforts and hold discussions modernizing the Fiji Customs administration.

Revenue and Customs Service Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said Revenue and Customs is committed to strengthening administration of Customs laws and procedures and processes.

“We are committed to reforming and modernizing our Customs projects and regulatory framework to ensure a well-functioning and efficient Customs administration,” Mr. Das said. 

“Our aim is to ensure that Customs procedures are in line with international standards and recommended practice under the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement that has been ratified by Fiji” he said.

“We are grateful to have Korea Customs experts in the country to assist us under the principles of World Customs Organization Mutual Administrative Assistance. As a developed country, Korea Customs Service has one of the best practices in the globe in terms of their Customs Administration and we are fortunate to be learning from the best to improve our Customs processes and procedures,” Mr. Das said.

“The partnership with Korean Customs Service will allow for close dialogue in order to implement recommendations from these experts,” he added.

Korean Customs Service Project Manager, Mr. Sun Man Kim said the team will conduct site visits and meet with the Fiji Customs administration stakeholders and enforcement teams while they are here.

“We will be looking at the legal framework, process and Information Technology (IT) system and infrastructure. At the same time, we will conduct our site visit to Suva seaport and Nadi airport and with the private sector including an airline company, sea freight forwarders and the trading community,” Mr. Kim said.

The team will be here for three weeks.

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The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (Revenue and Customs) is calling for the public to take heed of individuals who are taking another shot at impersonating Revenue & Customs Service Officers for the purpose of personal and financial gain.  

In this new development, a case of cybercrime has emerged whereby a Revenue and Customs email address was created to email an audit notice to a business taxpayer.

“A business taxpayer received an email titled Audit Notice from a fake Revenue and Customs email account. Firstly, we do not send such notices through emails but rather it is a formal letter on our letterhead. So it was easy to identify that this was a case of impersonation,” Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“This is not the first time a Revenue and Customs Officer has been impersonated. In this modern age and easy access to technology, it is dreadful to see the abuse of such capabilities for criminal purposes,” Mr. Das said.

“We encourage taxpayers to immediately contact us to verify if they feel any suspicions. If any communication comes through and indicates any form of settlement or resolution outside of law, it should immediately trigger suspicion and must be reported,” he said.

One must be mindful that it is a serious offence under the Crimes Act to impersonate a Revenue and Customs Service Officer by whatever means.

“Impersonating a Revenue & Customs Officer is an offence under the Crimes Act 2009 with a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment. The matter will be referred to Fiji Police for further investigations,” Mr. Das stressed.

“We are requesting members of the public to be vigilant and not engage in business over emails, phone calls or reveal tax information before verifying the identity of the Revenue & Customs officer. Our official email is info@frcs.org.fj. If you are not sure, call us on 324 3000 or on our hotline 1326,” he said.

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The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (Revenue and Customs) and Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve Fiji’s macroeconomic and business statistics.

The MOU was signed by Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das and FBos Government Statistician, Mr. Epeli Waqavonovono at the Revenue and Customs Boardroom yesterday.

As both parties provide important services to the Fiji government, business and people, this MOU will allow FBoS to access Revenue and Customs data in order to improve the range, quality and timeliness of inputs to key economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also contribute to the establishment and operation of a national business register.

Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said the MOU will enhance the collaboration between both agencies.

“The MOU is a tool to enhance the cooperative relationship between both agencies. It is also an achievement for both parties in the context of national interest,” Mr. Das said.

“Revenue and Customs is a key source of data on business income, expenses and capital transactions and on business registration. This data can be potential inputs to the compilation of statistics including the Fiji national accounts, international accounts and business activity,” he said.

Apart from data sharing, an officer from FBoS will also be seconded to Revenue and Customs.

“We are pleased with the decision to have an officer seconded at Revenue and Customs to access the records required by FBoS,” Mr. Das said.

Mr. Waqavonovono thanked Revenue and Customs for the secondment opportunity as it would ensure ease of business.

He also gave his assurance that the MOU will allow FBoS to provide timely and robust data with other Fiji government agencies in coordinating a scheme of economic and social statistics relating to Fiji.

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The Revenue and Customs opened its refurbished Labasa Office this morning. With the opening of this refurbished office, 108,000 taxpayers from the Northern Division can expect better customer service.

“The Look North strategy of government has seen the focus and development of the North consistently over the last few years. The North is a budding and emerging economic region”, Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“I would like to outline the economic significance of Labasa in order to highlight the contribution Labasa makes to the Fijian economy. Labasa has 5,831 registered businesses. These businesses are made up of 381 companies, 269 partnerships, 42 cooperatives and remaining are sole trader businesses which generates approximately $6.7 million annually”.

“Partnership is one of our key strategic Focus areas outlined in our 3-year Strategic plan and we anticipate that the opening of our refurbished Labasa office will also enable us to work more closely with the business community and people of Fiji. With the opening of this refurbished office, we encourage our taxpayers to voluntarily comply with their income tax obligations by coming in to talk to our officers if you need any assistance. We want to build a healthy relationship with you, a relationship of Trust”, Mr. Das stressed.

Divisional Planning Officer Northern, Mr. Uraia Rainima said that the opening of new office will no doubt boost the morale of the staff and the organization to continue to provide effective and efficient service to the entire Northern Division.

“Whether you are from Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni or interior of Macuata, I guarantee you that your queries, doubts and expectation on tax or border issues will be transformed into satisfactory once you exit the office door”, Mr. Rainima said.

For queries please contact the Stakeholder Engagement /Public Relations Department on 3243031/ 3243259.

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IN a bid to enhance border protection capabilities to combat transnational crimes in the region, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service in collaboration with Australian Border Force and Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) is conducting an investigation workshop for Border Protection Agencies from around the Pacific. 

23 participants from Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Samoa, Nauru, Marshall Islands and French Polynesia will undergo the Investigation workshop for the next two weeks at the Regional Training Centre at the Revenue and Customs Service Complex in Suva.

While delivering his keynote address, Revenue and Customs Service Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das emphasised on the need to strengthen the network with regional border agencies to protect our borders.

“The aim of the training is to provide participants from border security related agencies with skills, knowledge and confidence required to build their investigation capabilities, increase engagement with partner agencies and to pursue mutual objectives in the region,” Mr. Das said.

“Of course, investigative skills program focuses on investigation methods and techniques used by the Australian Border Force and includes areas such as elements of offences, note taking and record keeping, investigation planning and interviewing, power of arrest and search warrants to name a few,” he said.

“We are very fortunate to have the Australian Border Force technical experts here to guide and train our people build capacity and capability around this,” he said.

“This is a great opportunity you have been granted. You should put full effort into it and grasp as much as possible and the most important aspect of these kinds of workshops is the network that you build,” he added. 

Mr. Das thanked Australian Border Force for the expertise in ensuring a collective and collaborative approach to protect the region.

Australian Border Force facilitator, Mr. Alex Kelsall assured an establishment of a cooperative network through the workshop.

“We are here to gather knowledge as much as we are to impart knowledge because it is through knowledge we can get a closed working relationship, understand how each of our organisations work and how we can best combat transnational crimes,” Mr. Kelsall said.

OCO Head of Secretariat, Mr Seve Peneua expressed similar sentiments.

“It is very important for all enforcement agencies to work together. The region is a ground for transnational organised crimes and criminal syndicates. Transnational organised crimes is increasing in the Pacific. There is no single country or agency that can effectively address on its own therefore the need to work closely together between and among your law enforcement agencies at the national level and across borders.  We are working closely with regional organisations to jointly address these impacts of transnational organised crimes,” Mr. Peneua said.

Mr. Peneua also added that OCO is in the process of developing an education and training framework to enhance and equip capacity and skills of law enforcement agencies in the region.

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For queries please contact the Stakeholder Engagement /Public Relations Department on 3243031/ 3243259.

Regional and local tax administrators are attending a three-day workshop at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service complex discussing and sharing ideas to strengthen tax compliance, through risk management and profiling.

The workshop has been organized by the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) and the Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association (PITAA).
Tax Administrators from Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are attending the workshop.

Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer Mr. Visvanath Das while opening the workshop highlighted the need for proper risk management application in this modern era. “In Fiji we have developed a Compliance Improvement Strategy which identifies industries and taxpayer groups under the radar and this is done through a risk profiling and assessment process. Thereafter identifying various mitigation to address the noncompliance and the risks.

It outlines specific strategies for taxpayer services, large & international, medium, small, construction, real estate and supermarkets to commit themselves to their tax obligations, and enhance voluntary compliance”.

“Several factors have substantially increased revenue risks and the complexity and volume of service, audit and other compliance interventions by revenue authorities. These include the growth in international trade, supported by e-commerce developments, changes in employment patterns and growth in the numbers of contractors, innovations in business structures and financial products, and the commoditization of tax schemes.

“Therefore, tax administration should have in place strategies and structures to ensure that non-compliance is minimized. We have to be smarter about the way we maximize return on Tax Administration’s limited resource as well”.

PFTAC Coordinator Mr. David Kloeden told participants that Revenue and Customs has produced impressive results after adopting the Compliance Improvement Strategy particularly in the areas of returns lodgments.

“So during the workshop we will be looking at how tax administrations can learn from Fiji and improve their compliance level,” he said.

The workshop concludes today.

Another company who was charged with “failing to file tax returns” has been fined $5,000 by the Suva Magistrates Court. Friendly Taxis and Tours Limited failed to file its returns for 2014, following which the company was charged and taken to court.

Resident Magistrate Mr. Joji Boseiwaqa while delivering his sentencing said that the company was well aware of its non-compliance with filing its tax returns as required by the law. It had received letters reminding it to comply or seek extension with Revenue and Customs but has failed to do so.

“Taxpayers who do not file returns and legal proceedings that are issued to bring them to justice should not expect any mercy from this court. This sentence should be a deterrent to future offenders as the tax laws of this country are to be adhered to or they will face heavy fines”, Mr. Boseiwaqa said.

Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer Mr. Visvanath Das welcomed the judgement saying that those taxpayers who continue to beat the tax system will have to face the full brunt of the law. This is another example, further to last week’s Judgement on 12 month’s imprisonment for non-lodgement of tax return.

We mean serious business here. Mr. Das reiterated the importance of the public seeking assistance from Revenue and Customs if they are unsure of their tax obligations. We want to further enhance tax transparency and voluntary compliance thus creating a level playing field for all taxpayers.

“We are here to serve the public and Revenue & Customs is encouraging taxpayers who may be unsure of their tax status or obligations, to call or visit our nearest office or alternatively visit our website www.frcs.org.fj for more information.”