Customs, Financial Police Accused of Illegal Taxation of Importers

Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari and Executive Secretary of the Federation of Georgian Businessmen Giorgi Isakadze condemned the current practice of taxing importers at customs offices located at the  country?s eastern borders as “illegal” at a news conference on August 15.

Subari said that the customs officers are taxing imported goods not in accordance of the value of goods, as envisaged by the law, but according to their volume.

?Importers have to pay 1,000 GEL [USD 555] for 1 cubic meter of imported cargo, which is a clear violation of the law. In private conversations the customs officers say that they act in accordance to the verbal orders of the Financial Police chief [Davit Kezerashvili], though no one will officially confirm this. As the importers say, customs officers and experts who assess the value of imported goods are under pressure from Financial Police officials,? Sozar Subari said.

Giorgi Isakadze, Executive Secretary of the Federation of Georgian Businessmen, said that current situation at the customs offices hinders the development of an attractive investment climate in the country.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)