By Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) sub-port office here has warned couriers, as well as the public, against the illegal collection of duties and fees for packages, parcels and balikbayan boxes from abroad, especially during this Christmas season.
Customs Collector Fe Lluellyn G. Toring issued the warning Thursday afternoon after at least three complaints were recently filed with her office against legitimate couriers who reportedly collected taxes for the delivery of packages without the approval of the BOC.
“Naay mga panghitabo dire sa atoa nga gidala ra ang ngalan sa Customs (there have been some instances here that these entities have just used the name of the Bureau of Customs),” she lamented.
“We are hoping to disseminate (the information) to the public so that they will not fall prey to these illegal activities,” she said.
Toring explained that only her agency has the authority to collect duties and taxes for incoming delivery.
“The people must be very sure nga kung naay kolektahon nga buhis by the BOC, they should be aware nga kaning mga payment naa nay mga forms naka attach (they should be aware that if there are BOC fees that require payment that there are the necessary forms attached),” she said.
For couriers who are collecting the same, the public must look for certain documents/forms that would show these are valid and legitimate according to Customs standards.
The official forms include the Informal Import Declaration and Entry, where the duties and taxes are stipulated, and even a Gate Pass, among others, which would show that a package/parcel has passed through the BOC, Toring said.
If these are missing or not attached to a package during delivery, then the collection is “illegal and not valid”, she pointed out.
In one recent case that the local Customs Office is looking into, a courier, which apparently was a sub-contracted company of a bigger courier company here, had asked the consignee of a “return-to-sender” package from a country in South East Asia to pay a certain amount to cover for taxes.
But having done a trace, Toring disclosed that the bigger company’s main office wrote her back afterward, saying the delivery was tax-free except for handling and freight expenses.
The latest she heard about this particular package was that it was already en route for delivery to the sender/consignee.
The Customs collector also appealed to the public to be vigilant and mindful of these couriers when receiving packages from abroad before paying any fees.
She urged the public to call or visit the Customs Office in Dumaguete City for any queries.
Meanwhile, Toring also explained that for shipments done through the Bureau of Posts, the BOC deploys a Customs examiner to collect the necessary duties and taxes, and issues an official receipt for every transaction.
Toring said she is set to call for a meeting with the different couriers here on Wednesday next week.
