The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority is once again reminding the public, Importers and Customs agents to classify all imported goods under correct Customs classifications or face the full brunt of the law.
This is after the Court of Review this week upheld the decision by FRCA to demand over 668,000 dollars from a company which provided incorrect tariff classification to FRCA to evade duties.
FRCA CEO Jitoko Tikolevu said the company incorrectly classified various goods which resulted in short payment of duties in 2011.
Following a tip off, an investigation was carried out by Customs which established that the company evaded duties amounting to $668,723.23. The Comptroller of Customs issued a demand notice in 2013 asking the company to clear the short payment.
The company then filed a Notice of Appeal in court on the grounds that the goods have been cleared 12 months ago and the issue arises of recovery window period being time barred as prescribed in the Customs Act.
However, the Court ruled that FRCA has the authority to check records dating back five years and demand duty that has been short paid.
Tikolevu said this is a landmark judgment which should also act as a deterrent to all those importers who are incorrectly classifying goods to evade duties.
