MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) would implement new guidelines on the different service fees, dues, and charges being collected from various stakeholders for its service starting next month.
In Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 02-2024 dated May 11 and made public Friday, the BOC said the measure seeks to ensure consistency in the rates of fees, dues, and charges imposed and to establish a mechanism for the payment of overtime work and other services provided by the bureau.
The CAO, which takes effect on June 10, covers all such fees to be collected by the BOC from shipping lines, airlines, air express operators, importers, exporters, Customs brokers, freight forwarders, consolidators, de-consolidators, logistics providers, transhippers, operators of Customs bonded warehouses, free zone locators, registered enterprises, third party solutions providers, and all other entities served by the bureau.
Under its provisions, service fees collected will be channeled into a Trust Fund, to be used for the p
ayment of allowances and overtime services for Customs personnel.
Among the services covered by these fees are vessel supervision, aircraft supervision, free zone locator supervision, annual supervision for Authorized Economic Operators, underguarding for transfers, off-hours services, special flight supervision, and various processing and storage fees.
Meanwhile, Customs dues and charges will be collected separately and will accrue to the General Fund.
These dues and charges encompass a wide range of transactions, including processing fees for goods declaration, balikbayan boxes, import and export transactions, appeals, legal opinions, accreditation charges, permit fees, registration charges, and service charges for document issuance and certification.
‘The implementation of this Customs Administrative Order is a crucial step in furtherance of standardizing our fee structures and establishing clear guidelines on the collection of Customs Fees, Dues, and Charges,’ Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said in a s
tatement.
‘We are doing this to establish uniformity, ensure transparency in our operations, and provide a mechanism for the payment of overtime work and other services delivered by the BOC,’ he said.
Source: Philippines News Agency