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Authorities thrash out details for applying excise tax in October

The Federal Customs Authority, FCA, the Federal Tax Authority, FTA, and local customs departments recently discussed the methods and mechanisms of applying excise tax at the start of October to goods that damage the health of people, such as energy drinks, carbonated beverages, and tobacco and its derivatives.
During the joint meeting, they discussed the role of the FCA and local customs departments in applying the new tax.
The meeting was headed by Mohammad Juma Buossaiba, director-general of the FCA, and Khaled Ali Al Bustani, director-general of the FTA, and saw the attendance of Ahmad Mahboub Musbeh, director-General of Dubai Customs; Mohammed Meer Abdul Rahman, director of the Department of Seaports and Customs in Sharjah; Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Mehrezi, director-general of Ras Al Khaimah Customs; Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahej, executive director of the Customs Affairs Sector at the Authority; Rashid Al Kindi, deputy director-general of Fujairah Customs, as well as Abdulla Al Khamiri, customs affairs manager at Abu Dhabi Customs, and several department directors from the authority and local customs departments.
Buossaiba said that the FTA is a strategic partner of the federal government's financial system while representing a new component of the country's overall journey of development. He also highlighted the importance of the FTA's role in promoting economic diversity and preparing for the post-oil economy, due to its sustainable financial resources that can fund development and infrastructure projects, help the country achieve its future plans, strengthen social justice, and build a sustainable and competitive economy.
Buossaiba stressed that they agreed to form a team of communication officers from the FCA and the FTA, to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of excise tax at the start of the next month. Based on the recommendations of the meeting, the authority will hold another meeting with the National Custom Tariff Committee, to discuss the categorisation of the goods that are subject to excise tax and confirm their final status with local customs departments, he added.
During the meeting, the participants discussed many customs procedures related to the goods that will be subject to excise tax, as well as potential situations when these goods are discovered in the customs-free zones and the resulting penalties
The meeting also discussed a possible agreement with the free zones that are registered in the tax system, and the likely procedures to hold tobacco companies accountable. The participants agreed to hold a second joint meeting at the end of October. - Wam