Jamaica Customs hikes clearance fee for personal effects barrel

Ahead of the Christmas Season, the Jamaica Customs Department has increased the flat fee to clear all personal effects barrels.

The department says starting November 1, the duty will be increased from $5,000 to $6,500.

This is the first fee adjustment since 2009 when it was introduced.

Personal effects refer to items for an individual or a household and do not apply to barrels containing items in commercial quantities.

The Customs Department is urging the public not to make a false declaration by stating that barrels with commercial quantities are personal effects as this is a breach of the Customs Act and will result in penalties including possible forfeiture of goods.

In the meantime, the Customs Department says effective November 1; importers will not be able to make duty payments in excess of $2 million in cash.
Customs says customers with payments in excess of $2 million should use its e-payment facility or pay via manager’s cheque.

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