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Archived Articles

This section contains a wide variety of archived articles, notices and news from DCIR including media releases and publications.

The 264 imported SINGER Sewing machines from China, which were seized by Customs on 2nd June 2015 for suspicious infringement of the Intellectual Property (IPR) Laws of Vanuatu, were finally destroyed on 24th September 2015 at the Bouffa Landfill.

The VAT is closely monitoring the Retail Industry specially the Chinese businesses with multiply changes to their VAT registered partnerships within few years. Registered persons within the Retail Industry are reminded that the original partnership ceases and a new partnership is formed if one of the existing partners’ leaves and/or a new partner joins the partnership.

The VAT Office will from 1st October 2015 implement the outbound caller initiative which is part of VAT Office overall Return and Debt Collection Plan implemented earlier this year. The outbound call are phone calls made from the VAT Office by VAT officers to remind all registered persons:

Intelligence supplied by the Vanuatu Customs was essential to the seizure of approximately 70 kilograms of cocaine in a joint operation by the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, and Queensland Police Service.

Recently the Value Added Tax (VAT) Office has been receiving advice from businesses with regards to business changing its legal entity and sees it appropriate to inform on the conditions and proper process of effecting this change with the tax Office.

Section 14 of the Value Added Tax Act No.12 of 1998 [CAP 247] (the Act)

Re - Opening of the Customs and Inland Revenue Office at Sola International Port of Entry

The Department of the Customs and Inland Revenue wishes to advice its stakeholders at TORBA Province, the general public, masters/agents of foreign vessels including yachts that the customs and Inland Revenue Office at Sola International Port of Entry in Torba Province will open again for normal operations as from Tuesday 11th August 2015. 

The Director of National Disaster Management Office has granted duty exemption to more than 300 imports during the last five months.

The VAT Office in Port Vila and Santo on 29th July celebrated the 17th anniversary of the VAT regime in Vanuatu.  The Value Added Tax was introduced on 1st August 1998 and today has become the main revenue source for the Government of Vanuatu and plays a vital role in the development of our country.

A total of VT 14,376,420 has been collected from a Joint Traffic operation conducted last month by Police, Department of Customs & Inland Revenue, Port Vila Municipal Council and the SHEFA Provincial Council. The operation was hailed as one of the most successful in many years.