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Importing goods by post
14 Apr 2016 at 06:29hrs | Views
Duty on goods imported by post can be assessed at Post Offices in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, Gweru, Victoria Falls and Beitbridge.
If goods are received from outside the country as mail (postal) articles – carried by Zimpost and addressed to an individual, the individual becomes the importer of those goods.
All imported goods including postal articles are subject to assessment for duty and other taxes and charges that may be applicable.
The importer is liable for payment of the duties and taxes unless there is an exemption or concession that applies.
The goods are also assessed for community protection risks, permit and approval requirements. Payment of duty on postal importations is done at Zimpost offices where the goods are held pending delivery.
If goods received are an unsolicited gift sent to you by someone abroad, a gift rebate of US$75 is granted.
What it means is that if the total Value for Duty Purposes (VDP) does not exceed US$75, you will not be required to pay any duty. If the value exceeds US$75, the rebate will not apply.
The VDP consists of cost of the items, postage, insurance, and packing costs (where applicable).
Where the importer is unable to provide evidence of the value of the goods, the customs legislation provides other ways of determining value.
If a parcel (one consignment) addressed to an individual contains goods or other packages that were imported for other people (such as friends or relatives) and the parcel has a VDP exceeding US$75, the gift rebate will only apply to the consignment as a whole and not to the individual parcels contained therein.
It is important to note that the gift rebate is granted to an individual or family only once in thirty (30) days.
If an individual imports goods for personal use by post, there is no duty free concession extended and the individual will be required to pay the full amount of duty applicable.
Goods which are not for sale or for commercial or industrial purposes, imported by private individuals will be assessed using flat rates of duty.
However, should the importer prefer use of tariff rates, he/she may request such application, prior to payment of duty, and the parcel may be returned to Zimra by the post office authorities for re-assessment.
If goods arrive in Zimbabwe by mail and require a permit or approval or are restricted or prohibited under any other law concerning the importation of goods into Zimbabwe, Zimra officials will hold the goods until such time when the importer can produce the permit or approval and the importer will receive notification to that effect.
Goods which are for resale or commercial purposes and require to be cleared through a bill of entry are also detained, and the importer will be notified.
Upon detention of parcels addressed to an individual for one reason or the other, Zimra will send the client a Postal Detention Notice.
If the importer takes no action within seven (7) days, and is based in an urban area, a second reminder will be sent.
For importers who are based elsewhere, a second reminder will be sent after 14 days.
A third and final reminder will be sent if there is no response after the same period of time and a response time of 10 days is issued.
If there is still no response then the goods will be taken to the State Warehouse where rent will start to accrue and if the goods are not cleared within 60 days, they will be disposed of through a Rummage Sale.
Enquiries on Parcels
Zimpost is the official carrier of international mail in Zimbabwe and if clients are advised to track their parcels or make an enquiry about delivery, they should directly liaise with them.
Where clients need to make enquiries on duties assessed, they can contact the Zimra office at the post office where the duty was assessed.
To contact ZIMRA:
WhatsApp line: +263 782 729 862.
Visit our website: www. zimra.co.zw.
Follow us on Twitter: @Zimra_11.
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZIMRA.11.
Send us an e-mail: pr@zimra.co.zw.
Call us (Head Office): 04 –758891/5; 790813; 790814; 781345; 751624; 752731
If goods are received from outside the country as mail (postal) articles – carried by Zimpost and addressed to an individual, the individual becomes the importer of those goods.
All imported goods including postal articles are subject to assessment for duty and other taxes and charges that may be applicable.
The importer is liable for payment of the duties and taxes unless there is an exemption or concession that applies.
The goods are also assessed for community protection risks, permit and approval requirements. Payment of duty on postal importations is done at Zimpost offices where the goods are held pending delivery.
If goods received are an unsolicited gift sent to you by someone abroad, a gift rebate of US$75 is granted.
What it means is that if the total Value for Duty Purposes (VDP) does not exceed US$75, you will not be required to pay any duty. If the value exceeds US$75, the rebate will not apply.
The VDP consists of cost of the items, postage, insurance, and packing costs (where applicable).
Where the importer is unable to provide evidence of the value of the goods, the customs legislation provides other ways of determining value.
If a parcel (one consignment) addressed to an individual contains goods or other packages that were imported for other people (such as friends or relatives) and the parcel has a VDP exceeding US$75, the gift rebate will only apply to the consignment as a whole and not to the individual parcels contained therein.
It is important to note that the gift rebate is granted to an individual or family only once in thirty (30) days.
If an individual imports goods for personal use by post, there is no duty free concession extended and the individual will be required to pay the full amount of duty applicable.
However, should the importer prefer use of tariff rates, he/she may request such application, prior to payment of duty, and the parcel may be returned to Zimra by the post office authorities for re-assessment.
If goods arrive in Zimbabwe by mail and require a permit or approval or are restricted or prohibited under any other law concerning the importation of goods into Zimbabwe, Zimra officials will hold the goods until such time when the importer can produce the permit or approval and the importer will receive notification to that effect.
Goods which are for resale or commercial purposes and require to be cleared through a bill of entry are also detained, and the importer will be notified.
Upon detention of parcels addressed to an individual for one reason or the other, Zimra will send the client a Postal Detention Notice.
If the importer takes no action within seven (7) days, and is based in an urban area, a second reminder will be sent.
For importers who are based elsewhere, a second reminder will be sent after 14 days.
A third and final reminder will be sent if there is no response after the same period of time and a response time of 10 days is issued.
If there is still no response then the goods will be taken to the State Warehouse where rent will start to accrue and if the goods are not cleared within 60 days, they will be disposed of through a Rummage Sale.
Enquiries on Parcels
Zimpost is the official carrier of international mail in Zimbabwe and if clients are advised to track their parcels or make an enquiry about delivery, they should directly liaise with them.
Where clients need to make enquiries on duties assessed, they can contact the Zimra office at the post office where the duty was assessed.
To contact ZIMRA:
WhatsApp line: +263 782 729 862.
Visit our website: www. zimra.co.zw.
Follow us on Twitter: @Zimra_11.
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZIMRA.11.
Send us an e-mail: pr@zimra.co.zw.
Call us (Head Office): 04 –758891/5; 790813; 790814; 781345; 751624; 752731
Source - Zimra
