Ministries, Departments, Agencies Of Government Evading Taxes On Imported Vehicles — Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raised the alarm that
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) of government are in
the habit of evading taxes on imported vehicles and other
equipment.

This is even as the NCS affirmed that only the office of the
President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation
is exempted from paying taxes on imported items.

According to a statement signed on Friday by the Deputy National
Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Timi Bomodi, the Service
stated that except where waivers and, or concessions were sought
and granted by any MDA, all outstanding duties and taxes relating
to such imports are expected to be paid in full.

“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to
a trend noticed in the activities of certain Ministries,
Departments and Agencies with regards to their import of vehicles
and other equipment.

“The NCS wishes to state that except where waivers and, or
concessions were sought and granted, all outstanding duties and
taxes relating to such imports are expected to be paid in full.
This applies even in situations where these imports were executed
by agents or proxies on their behalf.

“We wish to reiterate that by law, only items imported by the
President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is
exempted from the payment of duty or taxes.

“The NCS is therefore by this notice sensitising MDAs, and
advising them on the need to adhere strictly with import guidelines
in this regard.

Contractors who import and supply such equipment or vehicles
without payment of duties should also be aware that they will be
considered liable as fraudulent importers in such circumstances. We
urge them to avail themselves of our trade facilitation tools
available on and offline.

“This is necessary to avoid embarrassments in future,” the NCS
stated in the statement.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raised the alarm that
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) of government are in
the habit of evading taxes on imported vehicles and other
equipment.

This is even as the NCS affirmed that only the office of the
President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation
is exempted from paying taxes on imported items.

According to a statement signed on Friday by the Deputy National
Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Timi Bomodi, the Service
stated that except where waivers and, or concessions were sought
and granted by any MDA, all outstanding duties and taxes relating
to such imports are expected to be paid in full.

“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to
a trend noticed in the activities of certain Ministries,
Departments and Agencies with regards to their import of vehicles
and other equipment.

“The NCS wishes to state that except where waivers and, or
concessions were sought and granted, all outstanding duties and
taxes relating to such imports are expected to be paid in full.
This applies even in situations where these imports were executed
by agents or proxies on their behalf.

“We wish to reiterate that by law, only items imported by the
President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is
exempted from the payment of duty or taxes.

“The NCS is therefore by this notice sensitising MDAs, and
advising them on the need to adhere strictly with import guidelines
in this regard.

Contractors who import and supply such equipment or vehicles
without payment of duties should also be aware that they will be
considered liable as fraudulent importers in such circumstances. We
urge them to avail themselves of our trade facilitation tools
available on and offline.

“This is necessary to avoid embarrassments in future,” the NCS
stated in the statement.