General Cunsumtion Tax

[Danestar]

Just this week i ordered a few flash drives from newegg through a local courier service anyway they came today and the sum of money was unusually high upon enquiring why she told me that GCT is now applied on these items.
It was not the first time ordering items like these and i never payed any tax on them. I know that tax is not payed on Computer parts and accessories. Can someone tell me what is going on and when was this implemented.

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

I don't know about this being re-implemented...for sure it HASN'T BEEN.

I notice i hear alot of small computer stores charging GCT on alot of stuff that are Zero Rated. I must tell persons to watch out for anybody who charges GCT on Computer Parts and Accessories. Only some computer things like Speakers, Dust Covers, Surge Protectors/UPS and those things that is not only computer it on...should have GCT...even DigiCams.

[Djohne]

Well I bring in flash drives regularly and trust me they started charging GCT on Flash drives from earlier in the year, claimed that customs said to charge it......sounded Fishy to me.......

[soapcreek]

yup-I even get charged for for usb hard drives lately at e-biz with lame story that unless it comes with the laptop or pc it will attract gct. Also does software attract gct?

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

No software doesn' attract GCT neither does Flash Drives. I brought i 2 flash drives from NewEgg in August and there was no GCT charged by Global Couriers. Only the normal 2% Cess.

Is what going on here??

Djohne and Danestar...which courier charged you GCT??

[Djohne]

Global Courier, I think its a scam, I have to call back customs monday to find out if GCT is to be paid or not.

[gangstanerd]

GCT is paid on Flash Drives, but flash drives only, sometimes when u carry things in with Global flash drives get thru, dont know how, but it duz..
Its legit, there is tax on thumb drives

[ramesh]

I have to call back customs monday to find out if GCT is to be paid or not.You may have to try on Tuesday. This Monday is a Holiday, I believe......

[fredtheman]

Hey did you get a yellow copy of the c78x for the amount paid to custom? If not i wonder who collected the gct

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

GCT is paid on Flash Drives, but flash drives only, sometimes when u carry things in with Global flash drives get thru, dont know how, but it duz..
Its legit, there is tax on thumb drives

When did that happen??
Does the MITEC website have any information on what is to be charged GCT?

EDIT
Found something on their website within the Technology Archives however the links don't work.
http://www.mct.gov.jm/technology2_archives.htm
It's at the Bottom of the page...GCT Computers and Software

[soapcreek]

I couldn't get the link to open either but I found the related speech:
http://www.jis.gov.jm/minspeeches/html/20050601t150000-0500_5832_jis_sectoral_debate_2005_presentation_by _hon__phillip_paulwell__ministry_of_commerce__scie nce_and_technology_on_june_1__2005.asp

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

I am frequently asked to comment on why mobile network number assignments are not done to enable easy identification of the different networks. I am at present in dialogue with the companies for them to put in place a network identification system so the calling party can know the network into which they are dialing.
Wonder when that going to come in and how them going to do it??

BUt seriously...read the whole thing and there is nothing about what items are to be exempt from taxes. Need to find some more information...

[soapcreek]

Well tomorrow I am asking my mail service (Ebiz) for a copy of the Tarrifl list and the exempt/zero list; I want to put the onus upon them because they must know what attracts GCT/duties etc and what is exempt. I will let you know as soon as I get anything.

[Danestar]

What makes a thumb drive different from any other piece of hardware. I am going to call Air J cargo i think that is where Global ships and let them give me a good explanation, if it is all true this would be the reason they so hard to get locally. See the Gov just can't give a nigga a break............

[Nestersan]

The reason is this;

GCT is not charged on computer parts. ie; Parts NEEDED for the computer to work, or Parts that cannot work without a PC.

So PDA = GCT
RAM = no GCT

So since some Thumb drives have MP3 players, etc, it is up to the officer who has FINAL WORD.

As to whether or not GCT is charged, depends on the whims of the officer and the value of the goods.

For example, I bought a tape drive and tapes, the Tape drive don't attract GCT, but the tapes do. When I got to the officer, she saw it was like 5 tapes, so rather than do the paperwork, she just wrote tape drive and parts, so G.C.T free.

If she was PMS'in , or if it was like 50 tapes, she coulda wrote 'em up and charged me.

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

Small importers to benefit from new customs procedures (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061017/shipping/shipping1.html)

Importers of small shipments are set to benefit from changes to the cargo release process at Jamaica Customs.

The adjustments, which took effect on October 9, resulted in an increase in the threshold for non-commercial goods ordinarily entered on the C78X from US$1,000 to US$3,000. At the same time, importers of packages consisting of non-dutiable goods only, valued at US$100 and below, will no longer be required to submit a C78X Import Entry Form.

These shipments will now be processed using the Airway Bill, provided that there are no dutiable goods contained in the shipment. In addition, there is no longer a requirement for a letter of authorisation signed by a Justice of the Peace for goods cleared by couriers.

Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mrs. Viris Page-Gardner, notes that the changes have been implemented to facilitate the speedier processing of small shipments and to avoid long delays whilst ensuring the necessary checks and balances.

GREAT!!! Now we can carry in more parts without it being seeing as Commercial.
The Micro Computer Sales businesses in Jamaica should benefit tremendously with this move.

PS
Anybody know if Commercial buying is determined by Quantity OR Value/Cost Price?
Reason i ask is that I have a friend who was trying to carry in 9 Wireless PCI Cards however Global Couriers was telling him that he would be charged some commercial duty thing (don't remember the term they used) due to the quantity which seems commercial.

[juiceheadband]

Anybody know if Commercial buying is determined by Quantity OR Value/Cost Price?
Reason i ask is that I have a friend who was trying to carry in 9 Wireless PCI Cards however Global Couriers was telling him that he would be charged some commercial duty thing (don't remember the term they used) due to the quantity which seems commercial.
I think its the quantity

[zRo ToLeRaNcE]

I think its the quantity
The thing is...the article speaks to Cost.

Before the increase to US$3000, I carried down my own personal computer parts using Air Jamaica Cargo. The total cost of parts was US$1200...the customs person told be i had to pay $600 in Stamp Duty + 2% something. He said that because is over US$1000, i had to pay the Stamp Duty (I not sure i using the correct terminology i.e. Stamp Duty, but that's what I remember).

If is Quantity
Who decides what quantity of a item is commercial...the Customs Agent...as Nestersan stated previously?

[selasieye]

Unnu Lucky, bring in my computer last week, the people seh a 30G mi haffi pay fi customs, when me get cross all of a sudden the bill turn into 8 grand...90% being freight charges.

All mi a say,I rather have set system where all goods are categorized than the decesion being left up to the Agent.