Duty reprieve on fax machines welcomed

IN HIS analysis of the changes in the budget relative to freight and trade matters, Jeff Epstein, senior freight auditor of Safcor Panalpina, told FTW that there were no issues that would have members of the industries jumping up and down in alarm. However, Epstein saw one change that will quench a bit of fire in the previous tariff interpretation related to fax machines. This is the abolition, from April1, of ad valorem customs and excise duty on “facsimile machines” and “parts of facsimile transmission apparatus”. “It’s a sensible move,” said Epstein. “There are very few pure fax machines these days, as most have multiple functions.” This in turn has seen importers of these computerised multi-function machines having gut-wrenching battles with customs to try to prove that their imports were not primarily fax machines – but computer equipment. This to avoid the duty that was levied on faxes, but not since last year on computers or computer equipment or parts. “Now being able to bring in fax machines duty-free will eliminate a lot of disputes,” Epstein said.