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 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.
Arrests have been made of Omar Franco Alvaro Chacón, head of the Superintendency of Tax Administration and Carlos Enrique Muñoz Roldán, former head the SAT, and 19 other senior officials, employees and individuals.
From a statement issued by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG):
CUSTOMS FRAUD NETWORK DISMANTLED
Chief and former head of the SAT Captured
The Customs union intends to invest $2.5 million to implement the Project Paperless Customs Offices.
The initiative could reduce fraud and corruption in the country by up to 85%.According to Victor Manuel Rivera, president of the organization, when the Vice President Roxana Baldetti, as manager of the National Anti-Smuggling Unit (Conacon), authorizes the proposal, they will will have, in less than six months, the program installed in all Customs offices registered with the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT).
There is a requirement to avoid duplicate collection of customs duties levied on imports in order to meet the provisions of the trade pact with the European Union.
The commissioner of Customs at the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) in Guatemala, Oscar Funes, referred to the commitments made by the region in the signing of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union, signed on 29 June.
Guatemala has created the Trade Transparency Unit in order to exchange information with U.S. Customs to detect illegal activity.
The Tax Authority (SAT) in Guatemala will exchange data with the Department of Homeland Security in the United States, said Miguel Gutierrez, head of the SAT.
To that end, the Trade Transparency Unit (UTC) has been created, to exchange information with U.S. customs better control trade.