ISLAMABAD: Directorate General of Customs Valuation has been assigned to stop trade based money laundering through effective monitoring of goods clearance specially those goods having lower duty rates or exempt from duty and taxes.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday issued SRO 503(I)/2021 to redefine functions of the Directorate General of Customs Valuation.
Through the SRO it is instructed the directorate that besides focusing on under invoicing of imports, also identify cases of over-invoicing of imports of low-duty or exempt items, and mis-invoicing of exports (to prevent flight of capital or trade-based money laundering) and to convey such information to concerned formations.
The FBR also instructed the valuation department to make special arrangements to aware trade and industry about the latest customs valuation of import and export of goods.
The directorate has been advised to develop and maintain a center for issuing advance rulings on valuation in accordance with international best practices.
The FBR asked the directorate to regularly obtain reference price data from accredited publications, official price list, websites, through market enquiries as well as findings of Post Clearance Audit and other authentic sources and to make such data available to all customs stations for smooth clearance of goods.
Further, the directorate has been advised to carry out proactive monitoring of valuation of goods imported into and exported from the country vis a vis international price trends, conduct and undertake sector wise studies of items prone to mis-invoicing and to advise the field formations regarding any abnormalities in valuation during clearance.
To maintain effective liaison with Pakistan Mission abroad for the purpose of valuation enquiries, with relevant valuation committees of World Trade Organization and World Customs Organization, and with foreign customs administration.
The FBR further advised the directorate to develop suitable training modules, in consultation with Directorate General of Training and Research, focused and providing necessary skills from basic level to advanced level to officers and officials working in all relevant functions including Model Customs Collectorates, Post Clearance Audit and Valuation Directorates.
