Phone accessories still attract import duties — Doku

Tag : Phone Housing
The removal of import duties on mobile phones and fixed telephonesets does not affect phone accessories. Some of the accessoriesthat will not benefit from the waiver are chargers, batteries andmobile phone housing

which will continue to attract Import Duty, Import Vat and all thelevies and fees, Mr Emmanuel N. Doku, Commissioner of the Customs,Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), explained on Thursday at apress conference in Accra. Previously telephones attracted a 10 percent import duty.

The commissioner said CEPS had begun implementing all the newfiscal measures announced by the government, including theCommunication Service Tax Act and the removal of import duties onsome commodities.

He said two laws passed by Parliament to regulate the prices ofselected commodities came into effect on May 23 and June 16, 2008respectively.

Under the first Act, Customs and Excise Amendment Act 2008 (Act756), which came into effect on May 23, 2008, Mr Doku disclosedthat Excise Duty Rates were amended on gas oil, kerosene, marinegas oil and premix fuel.

"The second Act, Customs and Excise Amendment Act 2008 (Act 758),which came into effect on June 16, 2008 saw the removal of importduties on commodities including rice, wheat, crude vegetable oiland yellow maize."

He, however, pointed out that some items listed in "Act 758 willcontinue to attract the Import Vat of 12.5 per cent, NHIL of 2.5per cent, ECOWAS Levy of 0.5 per cent, Export Development Levy of0.5 per cent and Inspection Fee of one per cent of the CIF value".

Mr Doku noted that the potential revenue loss arising from theremoval and reduction of taxes and levies by CEPS in 2007 totalledabout GH