The clearance of all commercial goods must be done using the Single Administrative Document (SAD) on the ASYCUDAWORLD System.
What are commercial goods?
In general terms, commercial goods are goods that are sold or traded or intended for sale or trade-in the normal course of a firm’s business, or customarily used by the general public or offered to it for lease, license, or sale
Goods can be classified as being commercial if they fall into any of the following categories:
- They are imported for business purposes.
- They are imported for resale.
- They are samples imported for business purposes.
Goods may be entered for the following reasons (Sec 38 (3) of the customs act)
- For warehousing, if so eligible;
- For home use, if so eligible;
- For transit or transshipment; or
- For temporary importation
What are the documents needed to import commercial goods?
- Shipping documents (Bills of Lading / or Airway Bills).
- An authentic invoice from the supplier.
- Import permits or licenses, where applicable.
- An Original Certificate of Origin, if the goods are being imported from a country with which Dominica has a Trade Agreement, and for which preferential duty treatment is being claimed.
- NB - Other documents in relation to the importation of the goods may be requested
What are the payment options for clearing commercial goods?
- Cash
- Debit or credit cards
- Business or bank certified cheque’s
- Pre-payment account
- Direct Bank Transfer through the National Bank of Dominica
Use of licensed Customs Brokers and tariff clerks
Businesses required to clear commercial goods must either hire the services of a licensed customs broker or have persons in their employ registered and licensed as tariff clerks by the Comptroller of Customs
Private persons required to clear goods with a Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of more than EC$4000.00 must hire the services of a licensed Customs Broker
How are commercial goods cleared?
- Commercial goods must be cleared using the Single Administrative Document (SAD) on the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDAWORLD).
- If a Customs Broker is required, then all documents must be presented to the Broker who will complete the clearance process.
- If companies employees/or other persons so authorized by the company, is used to effect clearance, a letter of authorization from the company must be provided to the Comptroller of Customs as well as a valid company ID (for employees).
Tax Payer Account (Trade Code) number
- Commercial Traders that are eligible for VAT registration must use their VAT ID number as their trader code number
- Commercial Traders that are not eligible for VAT registration must use their Inland Revenue Tax ID # as their Trader Code Number
- Non-commercial traders that have a valid Tax ID issued by Inland Revenue should use the Tax ID # as their trader code number
- Non-commercial traders that do not have a Tax ID will need to get a valid Tax ID from the Inland Revenue Division for use as their trader code number
The clearance process
- Collect shipping documents from a local agent and pay relevant fees.
- A Customs Broker or authorized agent will prepare the commercial declaration and submit to Customs via the ASYCUDAWORLD System.
- The importer/agent will proceed to the Customs Cashier and pay the relevant fees after the declaration is assessed in ASYCUDA.
- After processing by customs, importers/agents will proceed to the port or warehouse where the goods are stored for examination (if required) and release
- After verifying that all customs requirements are met, a Customs Release Order will be generated and triggered to DASPA for release of the goods