fp Turks and Caicos

The new electronic ASYCUDA system went into full affect Wednesday, Feb. 16, allowing all customs forms to be processed electronically, offering high hopes of speeding up the customs process.

Last month training took place for some 150 major commercial importers and customs brokers to get them up to speed on how forms are to be submitted and how the risk management process works.

Declaration forms can now be submitted via computer through the ASYCUDA website, which stands for Automated Systems for Customs Data, where all invoices and supporting documentation can simply be scanned and attached. An invoice will be created with the correct amount due in customs fees, which can be taken at anytime to the customs office and paid.

One new change which is now in affect with ASYCUDA is that only trained brokers have access to the system, meaning if you have three or more tariff items to declare you will have to go through a broker.

“In order to protect the integrity of the data, we have to ensure those using the system are trained, and we cannot afford to train everyone,” explains Deputy Collector and ASYCUDA Project Manager Monica Simmons.

For those interested in handling their own declarations and have three non-commercial tariff items or less, Simmons says a help desk computer will be available at the customs offices where a trained officer can help a customer process a form.

The changes have been implemented in order to speed up the customs process, facilitate trade, reduce administrative costs, increase customer service, increase compliancy and all without making anyone in the department redundant, customs advisor Geoff Thorne recently told the fp.

OFFICIAL NOTICE: To all shippers, freight forwarders, consolidators and couriers

The cargo manifest facility within the new ASYCUDA world automated system will be introduced for operational use in Providenciales on 16th February 2011. In conformity with the Customs Ordinance all shippers, freight forwarders, consolidators and couriers are hereby reminded that:

The master of every vessel of 100 net tons or more arriving from any place outside the islands shall deliver electronically to customs a cargo manifest within twenty four hours before arrival.

The master of every vessel under 100 net tons arriving from any place outside the islands shall deliver electronically to customs a cargo manifest within twenty four hours after arrival.

The commander of any aircraft arriving in the islands shall deliver electronically to customs a cargo manifest before or upon arrival.

Export manifests must be delivered electronically to customs within 24 hours before the departure of any ship or aircraft.

If you require any further guidance or assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact the ASYCUDA project team at the customs headquarters office on Providenciales at 946 4241 extension 81309.

M. Simmons
Deputy collector/project manager