The Gleaner NA Specialty Edition

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 11 - OCTOBER 17, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE 14 Income Tax Filing | IRS Support | Life Insurance & Retirement Plan | Small Business Consult| Business Funding | Bookkeeping & Payroll | Credit Counseling | Western Union Transfer | Print / Copy / Fax | Notary Public | Passport & Birth Certificate Renewal for Jamaica & Mexico | Document Preparation 696 Park Street, Hartford, CT. 06106 | https://jahfinancialservices.com | 860-538-4476 | accounting@jahfinancialservices.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA INSTAGRAM: @j.a.h.fin_rel FACEBOOK: @JAHFinancialServices SERVICES their status from the Jamaica Customs Agency, are allowed by policy to im- port motor vehicles (cars and light commercial units) with model year not exceeding ten (10) years. However, these vehicles must have been owned by the importer for a minimum period of six (6) months prior to the date of application for the import licence. • Approval of licences for motor vehi- cles that are older than the stipulated age limits will be at the discretion of the TBL • Classic/Antique: Once a motor ve- hicle is considered to be a classic car, the importer should submit a recommendation from a registered local classic car club detailing the characteristics of the vehicle that influenced their recommendation prior to the submission of an appli- cation to the TBL. • Prospective importers of utility ve- hicles for agricultural use seeking duty concession MUST FIRST obtain approval through the relevant par- ish office of the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) prior to importation. The TBL requires evidence of any duty concession granted at the time the application for an import li- cence is submitted. • An Import Licence is required from the TBL for the importation of oversize vehicles/heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers. The Trade Board’s website at www.tradeboard.gov.jm provides details of allowable age at importa- tion for these units. Any application for units over the stipulated age range will be at the discretion of the TBL after liaising directly with the Island Traffic Authority (ITA). • The importation of motor vehicles which are considered to be in a dam- aged state or in a salvaged state is PROHIBITED. • Vehicles imported from countries in which vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road must be modified to allow the beam of the headlamps to reflect down on the left horizontal plane or up and down on the vertical plane. In addition to the above, importers of buses are also required to do modifications to allow passengers to enter/exit on the curbside of the road. • Import Licences have a validity of one (1) year, EXCEPT in the case of vehicles close to the age limit, in which case, the licence is valid for the remaining portion of the given calendar year. The Trade Board will not accept responsibility for any breaches cited by Customs if the applicant imports a licensable item before obtaining a permit. Applications must be accompanied by the following documents: • Invoice from the dealer for a new vehicle. • Certificate of Title/Registration, Invoice or Bill of Sale. • Certified copies of one (1) form of identification which may be any of the following: Passport (biodata pages), Driver’s licence (both sides) or Voter Identification Card. • Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN). A photocopy of both sides of the card, as below, must be submitted. ONLINE APPLICATIONS Applications can be made online using the Trade Board Information System (TBIS). Payment for the ap- plication can also be made using this system. Supporting documents such as invoices, bills of sale, titles and cancellation certificates may be emailed or faxed to the Trade Board Limited. Complete applications (include all the relevant documents) are processed within twenty-four (24) hours or three (3) working days of receipt by the TBL. This excludes motor vehicles the age limits of which fall outside of the MVIP and will be therefore subjected to con- sideration/discretion by the TBL. The Trade Board’s website: www.trade- board.gov.jm provides details on this system. DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURE FOR CLEARANCE Documents required for clearance include: • Import Licence • Title • Invoice from supplier • Bill of Lading • Bill of Sight • Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) and Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN)- obtainable from Tax Administration Department. • Simplified Administrative Document (eSad) – This is electronic document on which all the particulars of the motor vehicle/cycle, the name of the importer, shipping information and the customs duties are recorded. It is completed by the customs broker and submitted to Jamaica Customs Agency. • Only a licensed customs broker can clear the vehicle, as individuals are not permitted to do so. Goods exports have been trending down, while imports have trended up. VEHICLES CONTINUED FROM 13 THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 11 - NOVEM 0