The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has authorized its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) to have access to export information to “maximize the anti-smuggling campaign” of the agency.
Customs commissioner Alberto Lina signed on Dec 22, 2015 Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 44-2015 allowing the CIIS of the Intelligence Group to check export declarations and entries in order to verify, spot-check, and confirm derogatory information against export shipments that have drawback claims or tax refunds.
The new rule, which took effect immediately, covers in particular drawbacks or tax refunds under Section 106 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.
Under the CMO, CIIS is tasked to coordinate with the export division of the collection district where the export cargo is to be loaded.
“A written authority from the concerned CIIS Officer-in-charge (OIC) assigned in the Collection Districts is required for any verification/spot check which may be conducted on any export shipment subject to drawback,” CMO 44-2015 said.
A duly accomplished Shipment Information Slip for Drawback Claims, per CMO 41-83 dated August 30, 1983, together with the supporting documents, should be presented by the exporter to the CIIS OIC assigned in the district where the export cargo is to be loaded “at least two working days prior to the stuffing of the export cargo to the container.”
“Failure to comply with this provision shall be a ground for denial of drawback claims,” CMO 44-2015 said.
The new order supersedes CMO 67-88 issued on June 28, 1988.
Earlier, BOC also issued CMO 43-2015, or the new rules to facilitate the cash conversion of outstanding Tax Credit Certificates issued in relation to the value-added tax applied to importations.
READ: BOC allows cashing in of VAT tax refund credits
The customs agency gave the go-signal to open the monetization program for VAT TCCs issued until December 2012. This is in line with Executive Order No. 68A-2014 amending EO No. 68-2012 that implements the government’s monetization program for outstanding TCCs.
The program aims to provide a mechanism for qualified VAT-registered persons to receive the cash equivalent of their outstanding VAT TCCs. – Roumina Pablo
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