The crisis in the tax administration department has created delays of up to 15 days in release of containers and serious lack of coordination in the management of processes at land borders and ports.
The business sector states that the lack of coordination is so bad that there are lines up to 4 km long at land border posts, where the main problems are "...
Cargo carriers are reporting that customs formalities can take up to 27 hours, due to the constant changes of personnel and their lack of training.
On the border of La Hachadura and Amatillo there are 15 kilometer long lines of vans which are waiting make the appropriate arrangements to pass through. Representatives from the Association of International Freight (Astic) have called for the establishment of a permanent table with the customs office in order to discuss and solve these problems, however, "... the General Department of Customs has shown no interest ...".
The dismantling of the network of corruption at the highest level of the taxation system shows the validity and the necessity that Central America has for having bodies such as the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala.
EDITORIAL
Guatemalan business leaders have been talking about the matter, after the release of the CICIG updates which shed light on a group of criminals who, from the highest level of customs administration, engineered smuggling and tax fraud in the country. See: "Customs Fraud Network in Guatemala".
On March 18 in San Salvador an event will be held with the theme of opportunities for defense against fines and customs taxes.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador (Camarasal):
Learning about appeal instruments, consultation and complaints, and the basic principles for documentation, plus a guide for direct users of customs services in Central America.
Shipping companies accept payment for inspection of containers but are asking for the removal of the charge for the "traceability tax disc" on the part of port companies.
Industry representatives argue that charging twice for stamps used for international transit through the container ports Quetzal and Santo Tomas de Castilla, breaches the agreement reached between business and the government in October 2014, when "...Tariff schedules were agreed by Empresa Portuaria Quetzal. "
From February 23rd a pilot plan will be operating, which aims to accelerate the time it takes to process carriers operating at the border.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
The Single Window for Exports (VUPE) and CUTRIGUA, announced that as of February 23, 2015, a pilot project will start which aims to facilitate trade at border crossings.
Now is the time to fulfill the clear mandate of the Presidents of the Central American Integration System for the establishment of a Customs Union in Central America.
From a statement issued by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO):
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) held in San José, the transfer of chairmanship of this regional entity to the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica for the period 2015.
In response to demands from carriers the Directorate General of Customs has temporarily suspended the payment of $18 for scanning each unit load transported.
From a statement issued by the Treasury of El Salvador:
Payment of the Fee for the Service of Non Intrusive Inspections and Transmission of the Declaration of Goods
Carriers claim that the new rules on the $18 fee for revision using scanners is not clear when it comes to charging the fee on consolidated cargo.
This new conflict has arisen from the fact that the rules of the law do not specify whether in the case of consolidated cargo the $18 must be paid per package or if the fee should be divided among all packages, as they claim has been done up until now.
With the amendment to the Customs Simplification Act charges for inspections using scanners on international freight have been eliminated, but are maintained for cargo of national origin or destination.
The Legislature has eliminated the fee of $18 for use of scanners on international freight, but not on national cargo, ie freight departing from or arriving at El Salvador.
For the third time a suspension has been enacted for the payment of the $18 fee for inspecting containers using scanner machines at customs offices in El Salvador, and will be in effect until January 15, 2015.
Once again the Legislature has decided to continue the suspension of the fee for non-intrusive inspections, this extension will take effect on December 1st.
An announcement has been made of the launch of a pilot scheme for certifying companies as AEO in order to expedite processes at customs offices.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance of El Salvador:
The Ministry of Finance through the Directorate General of Customs, has presented the progress made in AEO in El Salvador, which incorporates best practices customs offices from around the world.
The new extension of the suspension of the payment of $18 for the non-intrusive inspection of international land transit operations is for 60 days starting from September 15, 2014.
For the third time so far this year, the Legislative Assembly has decided to maintain the suspension of the collection of the customs levy, this time until 15 November.
The waiting times for export products passing through customs offices in El Salvador increased from 2.8 days on average in 2011 to 4.7 days in 2013.
From a statement by Competitividadelsalvador.org:
The Business Competitiveness Survey (ECE) was conducted for the third time, in which employers provide information on obstacles and opportunities in ten areas critical to compete globally.
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has approved extending for 60 days the suspension of payment of the fee for inspecting goods at customs using scanners.
According to the approval measure given by the Assembly, the extension of the suspension of the collection will be until mid-September and will apply to both domestic and foreign cargo, regardless of whether the destination of the goods is within or outside of Salvadoran territory.