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Outrage at Lagodekhi Customs

August 13, 2009

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

The control at customs has been tightened since June 18, 2009. The Ministry of Finance has changed According to the new rules taxation rules have changed. The tax limit has decreased from 1 000 GEL to 500 GEL for the personal belongings. This means that if a person is importing the personal belongings cost more than more than 500 GEL he/she has to pay the tax which is 13 % of the items price. The customs officers are checking the luggage and if one forgets to include even one thing into the customs declaration he might face at least 1000 GEL fine.

The persons who cross the Georgia-Azerbaijan border several times a month suffer most due to the amendment. Madona Natsvlishvili is among those persons. She went to Azerbaijan two weeks ago to buy clothes.

“We had problems at Lagodekhi customs when we were coming back from Azerbaijan. We all had to come out of the bus. We could not get our bags back for 8 hours. Then some of us were fined because we had exceeded a 500-GEL-limit. One of the citizens was fined with 1000 GEL because he had forgotten to include a pair of trousers in the customs declaration. It does not worth going to Baku to buy clothes and then sell here because the customs fee is more than we earn with selling these clothes to sustain our families,” notes Madona Natsvlishvili.

We have found out that customs officers fined one local distribution company with 2 000 GEL because two unregistered tooth brushes were discovered in their truck.

One of the citizens who were in Baku to attend a seminar recalls: “I bought some things for my family in Azerbaijan. I had never had any problems at the border with customs. When the customs officers told me that I had to pay the tax for extra luggage I refused because I did not have any money left. I also explained that the items I bought in Baku cost less than 500 GEL all together but they did not listen to me. They took away some items because I could not pay the tax for their import.” He also says that he was in Azerbaijan only twice in July and both were business trips and not for economical reasons. “First I was on a training and then on a conference. The customs officers said they could not do anything about it because the law ordered if a person went to Azerbaijan two times a month he went to buy items and then sell in Georgia,” says he.

The order of the Minister of Finance on the taxation of individuals who import personal belongings says that the amendments deal with the individuals that cross the border and enter Georgian more than once in 30 days. “Their luggage shall be considered as trade items and shall be taxed according to subsequent order – 13 % of the cost,” reads the order.

It is indicated on the web site of the Ministry of Finance that individuals can call on a hot line on 077 in case of any misunderstandings. “With the call centre’s service, you can receive information, professional consultation, explanation and receive information about the amendments to laws in time without visiting the tax and customs service centers. You can call on 007 if you have any questions about the tax and customs legislations; if you cannot understand the customs and tax procedures need qualified information fast; if an officer from the Ministry of Finance violated your rights.”

We had been trying to call on the hot line in connection with the problems at Lagodekhi customs but did not succeed.
Please see on this topic:

Custom’s House – Space Where Orders from High Ranking Officials Are More Important than Law

Law Is In Force at Sarpi Custom’s House Before It Is Enacted

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