Nicaragua: Flaws in the Customs Office Computer System
Problems with the computer system are affecting processes such as settlements, online payments and shipping of free zone containers in transit to the port.
Friday, November 3, 2017
The Higher Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) will be asking the government to put in place a contingency plan to correct the problems that have arisen in the customs computer system.
Dean García, executive director of the Nicaraguan Association of the Textile and Apparel Industry (Anitec), explained to Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "...` this situation has been going on for two weeks. Because we have computerized everything, (the customs declaration form, the transit of shipments form...) if there is no system, no transactions can be processed,' Garcia explained."
"...He pointed out that if a container with goods is delayed because the corresponding paperwork is not able to be done, it may miss getting on the international cargo ship, which represents a breach of contract with the clients (in another country).In addition, he explained that the owner of the merchandise, when experiencing this problem, has to pay fines for retained containers.Those containers are not ours.The shipping agencies rent them to us under the concept that they will be used for so many days, but when the stipulated time is exceeded, they have to impose fines because they can not rent them out to another client," said the executive director of the Anitec."
Since January 1, 2020, Nicaraguan authorities have been charging $25 for the electronic processing of the Single Central American Transit Declaration, a cost that exceeds by 233% what was paid until the end of 2019.
Until December 31 last year, the General Directorate of Customs Services (DGA) charged $7.5 for the Single Central American Declaration in Transit (DUCA), but with the new provision of the authorities, the cost increased by $17.5 for 2020.
Because the implementation of the Central American Single Declaration continues to generate problems in customs in the region, the contingency plan for DUCA F and DUCA was extended until June 27.
"If you use the Contingency Plan, we suggest that you make sure you arrive at the destination country with the DUCA F and DUCA T duly processed and the supporting documents," reported the Guatemalan Association of Exporters.
Until May 20, the validity of the regional contingency plan was extended to customs, which was activated because of the difficulties generated by the use of the Central American Single Declaration.
Since May 7, when the Single Central American Declaration (DUCA) was implemented at the regional level, the situation in customs has been complicated, because of multiple difficulties reported in the import and export processes arising from the implementation of the new system.
The business sector in Nicaragua has denounced the fact that customs control processes for goods are taking longer than normal, due to the fact that the authorities are carrying out "security" inspections.
Before the start of the socio-political crisis, the risk management system, whose function is to determine how much imported merchandise should be inspected, operated at random and inspected 20% of total purchases coming from abroad.However, in recent months authorities have chosen to inspect all of the merchandise, generating significant delays at customs enclosures.
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