As of October 1st, Guatemala and Honduras will begin operating three Peripheral Customs Offices, areas that will simplify procedures and allow free community mobility between both countries.
Guatemalan and Honduran taxpayers who make definitive imports to each State Party will be the ones to benefit from the implementation of this type of customs, since the goods imported under this modality will enjoy free mobility.
In Guatemala, the Superintendence of Tax Administration authorized Corporación Disatel S.A. to provide the service of electronic tags for the control of containers in the country.
Authorities from both countries are fine-tuning the final details to begin construction and habilitation of the Engineers Borderland Port in Quiche, Guatemala, which will connect with Nuevo Orizaba, Chiapas, in Mexico.
Guatemalan authorities reported that the process of the Foreign Affairs Ministries is to determine where the entry and exit points of the customs will be, since on the Mexican side modifications would have to be made to match the land.
Delays are reported in Salvadoran customs in San Cristóbal and La Hachadura, and difficulties in the port of Santo Tomás de Castilla, in Guatemala, because of the implementation of DUCA.
The Inter-American Commission for Trade Facilitation (CIFACIL) of El Salvador asked the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) of Guatemala, to work to solve the problems that Salvadoran companies are facing in the port of Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemalan maritime terminal in the Atlantic, arising from the implementation of the Single Central American Declaration (DUCA).
Two companies are expected to complete certification this month to provide the electronic tax stamps service in Guatemala, and by January 2019 they would be operating throughout the entire customs system.
In July of this year, it was announced that the tender for the service of electronic tax stamps for containers in Guatemalan customs would no longer be carried out, allowing several companies to provide their services independently.
Industria La Popular, Grupo Cropa and Grupo Vical, are the three companies qualified as new Authorized Economic Operators by the Superintendency of Tax Administration.
According to the authorities at the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT), the figure of Authorized Economic Operator (OAS), which is recognized by the World Trade Organization, facilitates trade, security and control, as well as compliance in tax, customs and legal matters.
The tender for the service of electronic tax stamps for containers passing through Guatemalan customs will no longer be carried out, meaning that several companies will be able to offer their services independently.
Last June the Superintendency of Tax Administration of Guatemala had convened an informative meeting for companies that were interested in the qualification process to provide the electronic tax stamp service.
The use of the Central American single invoice and declaration form will be mandatory from March 1, 2018 and not from January 1, as originally planned.
Authorities in Guatemala and Honduras have decided to postpone the mandatory use of the Central American single invoice and declaration (Fyduca) form, due to, among other things, ignorance about the use of the system on the part of some companies.
The passage of freight transport is being blocked by demonstrations held by Guatemalan teachers which have forced the closure of the customs offices of Pedro de Alvarado, San Cristobal and La Ermita.
The private sector grouped under the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif) has called for an end to the blockades that are already affecting Puerto Quetzal and the route to the border at Pedro de Alvarado, in Jutiapa, towards El Salvador.
In the customs offices of Tecun Uman working hours have been extended both on the Guatemalan and Mexican side in order to allow passage of trucks which until now had been left stranded.
The Superintendent of Tax Administration is also operating an extraordinary timetable, a measure which could be extended for a few days, depending on what is decided at the end of the weekend.
Within three to four months the SAT plans to start implementing a selective "blue" process, which involves clearing containers so that they only go through one documentary process or warehousing goods inspection.
The measure aims to streamline the inspection process, free up space in ports and reduce waiting times, explained Werrner Ovalle, intendent of Customs.
In protest against the slow pace with which procedures are processed at customs offices, a group of customs managers and truck drivers have blocked off the entrance to the terminal facilities.
Soy502.com reports that on Friday afternoon "... a group of about 350 people blocked access to facilities of the Port of Santo Tomas de Castilla." The blockades started on Wednesday, March 9, causing delays and discomfort for exporters and importers.
On December 8 inspections and customs controls began on people and goods arriving aboard international private flights at La Aurora International Airport.
Preparations for the protocol establishing customs controls by the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) started in August, following an agreement signed between the SAT and and the ministries of Communications, Agriculture and Interior.
An announcement has been made that in 2016 an integrated system will be used to to carry out fiscal, safety and phytosanitary controls in a single revision.
The Tax Authority will be responsible for deciding the date of the launch of the new system, which will integrate phytosanitary controls, customs and security in the container terminal of Puerto Quetzal.
The Tax Authority has opened a customs office in La Aurora airport in order to begin including passengers taking private flights in customs controls.
Authorities from the Tax Administration Office have now set up an office for passengers on international charter flights to make customs declarations, but some formalities are still pending.