FIJI: An agreement between the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority and HFC Bank will now allow for payment of Customs duties and charges to be made electronically.
The memorandum of understanding signed by the two entities yesterday will provide a faster and convenient method of paying Customs duties and charges at HFC Bank branches.
FRCA CEO Jitoko Tikolevu said the real time service launched yesterday would ensure goods at Customs were cleared quickly.
“The MOU provides for electronic payment services through HFC Bank’s internet banking facility as well as manual deposits made at HFC Bank branches for Customs transaction,” said Mr Tikolevu. He said under the MOU, the authority would ensure timely clearance of consignments once they had received confirmation from the bank.
Mr Tikolevu said HFC hoped to extend the electronic payment facility to its other payments.
HFC Bank chief executive officer Isikeli Tikoduadua said they were happy to be part of the system.
He said usually it took importers two to three days to get their goods cleared from Customs because they had to manually pay the clearance fees and charges.
“The real time service that we launch today in partnership with FRCA provides customers a quicker way to pay and clear their goods from Customs.
“HFC Bank is happy to facilitate this service for FRCA as it benefits both the customers and FRCA in meeting its goals of bringing improvement to payment efficiency,” he said.
Mr Tikoduadua said the new service would be rolled out in Suva first followed by other branches of the bank.
