Tags: Albania Property For Sale, Albanian Property, Albanian Property Market, Buy Property Albania, City Property The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced on February 25 that the Republic of Albania had become the seventy-second country to implement the international ATA Carnet system, which allows for the temporary customs duty and tax-free export or import of goods for up to one year.
(ATA is an acronym derived from the collective French words and English words Admis- sion Temporaire/Temporary Admission.)
According to Peter Bishop, chairperson of the ICC World Chamber Federation (WCF) World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC), Albania’s implementation of the ATA Carnet system signals to the world that Albania is open for business and that its participation will have a positive impact on the Albanian economy and is greatly welcomed by all other members of the Carnet chain.
For those unfamiliar with an ATA Carnet, it removes the need for exporters to provide customs authorities with the otherwise necessary guarantees for goods to cross international borders. It operates like passports for goods. Every year, over 160 000 ATA Carnets are issued worldwide for goods valued at $20-billion. The goods covered under the ATA Carnets range from computers to prehistoric relics. ATA Carnets cover all kinds of goods, including commercial samples and professional equipment, as well as goods for fairs and exhibitions.
The ATA Carnet system, which is adminis- tered by the Brussels-based World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the ICC WCF, faci- litates international trade and provides compa- nies with a cost-effective tool to reach new markets for their products. The chain comprises chambers and business organisations that have been appointed by their national customs authority to issue and guarantee ATA Carnets.
In South Africa, ATA Carnets are adminis- tered by the South African Chamber of Com- merce and Industry. The South African Revenue Service (Sars) issued its external policy on ATA Carnets, a 17-page document, effective from November 1, 2010.
The document outlines the customs procedures and stipulations for the acceptance, examination, processing and acquittal of ATA Carnets for goods temporarily imported into, or exported from, South Africa.
The document also deals with goods that are covered by an ATA Carnet, namely commercial samples owned abroad and imported for the purpose of being shown or demonstrated in the country for the soliciting of orders to be supplied from abroad; goods for display or use at exhibitions, fairs, shows, meetings or similar events; and professional equipment (including ancillary apparatus and accessories) owned abroad and for use solely by or under the supervision of a person resident abroad or a legal person established abroad. This covers almost anything: computers, repair tools, photographic and film equipment, musical instruments, industrial machinery and equipment for use by surgeons, archaeologists, zoologists, entertainers, lecturers and so on, as well as specialised or adapted vehicles used by professional bodies – this excludes all private individuals, private companies and agents for new or used vehicles.
There are also goods that are not covered by an ATA Carnet. These include goods sent to or from South Africa by post; goods intended for processing or repair (these may, however, be used for component parts imported to repair professional equipment already imported under cover of an ATA Carnet); goods for the construction, repair and maintenance of buildings or for earthmoving and similar projects; items sold or for sale (such items are not considered to be samples); unmounted gems or gemstones; perishable or consumable items, including theatrical makeup; alcoholic beverages, tobacco and fuels; livestock; vehicles and trailers. Perish- able/disposable goods and items such as paint, cleaning materials, food, drinks, oils, leaflets and brochures, which are considered to be ‘consumable items’ and intended to be given away, disposed of or used abroad, are excluded from the ATA Carnet system as they would not normally be re-exported.
Petroleum Bitumen
Sars has informed of the insertion of rebate item 460.05/2713.20/01.06 relating to petroleum bitumen classifiable under tariff subheading 2713.20 with effect from March 1, 2013.
Top Boxes (Television)
Sars has also informed of the proposed substitution of the description of rebate item 316.17/00.00/03.00 relating to top boxes, classifiable in tariff subheading 8528.71 effective from March 1, 2013.
Boxer Shorts
The revenue service has also proposed the inclusion, under rebate item 311.40/5208.4/01.05, of boxer shorts as part of the manufactured products cur- rently qualifying under the rebate provision concerned. Comment is due by March 22.
Metal Nails
Further, Sars has announced the proposed increase in the general rate of customs duty on wire nails with shanks pointed at one end, presented in strips, classifiable under tariff subheading 7317.00.05, from 5% ad valorem to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) bound rate of 15% ad valorem; pointed screw nails with twisted shanks and unslotted heads, classifiable under tariff subheading 7317.00.07, from 5% ad valorem to the WTO bound rate of 15% ad valorem; and other wire nails classifiable under tariff subheading 7317.00.10 from 5% ad valorem to the WTO bound rate of 15% ad valorem. Comment is due by March 22.
Aluminium Slugs
Sars has also informed of the proposed creation of a temporary rebate of customs duty on alumi- nium slugs for impact extrusion, of aluminium, classifiable under tariff subheading 7616.99.30 for the manufacture of aluminium aerosol cans of a capacity not exceeding 500 mℓ, classifiable under tariff subheading 7612.90.40. Comment is due by March 22.
Taxation 2013 Proposals
On February 27, Sars published taxation propo- sals relating to customs and excise duties that were tabled by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan as part of his 2013 Budget, which was delivered on February 27 and became effective from the time of tabling on that day.
The amendments relate to, besides others, ‘sin products’ (liquor, tobacco, cigarettes and so on). Another amendment entailed the insertion of the additional note(s) after Addi- tional Note 4 in Chapter 22 of the Customs and Excise Act.
There were also tariff amendments relating to the insertion and the substitution of the following tariff subheadings, which relate to beverages: tariff subheadings 2206.00.17 and 2206.00.84 were inserted, while tariff subheadings 2206.00.05, 2206.00.81, 2206.00.82, 2206.00.83, 2206.00.85 and 2206.004.87 were substituted.