The customs duty on the import of cars for individuals in Belarus will increase by more than 4 times from July 1

February 25, Minsk /BELTA/. The customs duty on the import of passenger cars for individuals in Belarus will increase by more than 4 times from July 1, 2011. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the State Customs Committee. The rate of customs duties and taxes from July 1, 2011, for cars up to 3 years old with an engine capacity of 1400 cc. cm. with a value of 8 thousand euros will be 54% of the customs value, but not less than 2.5 euros per cubic centimeter. Currently, the existing customs rate for new cars is 0.6 euro/cubic cm. Thus, the total amount of customs duty on cars up to 3 years old will increase after July 1, 2011, from 840 euros to 4320 euros (based on value) or to 3500 euros (based on volume). As for used cars from 3 to 5 years old with an engine capacity of 2000 cc. cm., the rate here will increase from 0.4 euro to 2.7 euro. The total amount of duty will increase from 800 euros to 5400 euros. On the official websites of the State Customs Committee of Belarus (http://customs.gov.by/ru/regulation/1628356987/documentu), as well as the Customs Union Commission, you can find more detailed information about the current rates of customs duties and taxes on passenger cars for personal use, transported across the customs border by any means, until July 1, 2011, as well as the rates of customs duties and taxes that will be in effect after this period. As BELTA reported, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Sergey Borysyuk said at a meeting of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives on International Affairs and Relations with the CIS on February 24 that customs duties on car imports for individuals in Belarus will rise to the level of duties in the Customs Union countries from July 1, 2011. Presenting the bill on the ratification of the agreement on the procedure for the movement of goods for personal use by individuals across the CU border at the commission meeting, Sergey Borysyuk noted that this document, in particular, defines the rates of customs duties on imported vehicles. This agreement was temporarily applied in the CU territory from the date of signing. At the same time, a protocol of temporary exemptions was signed, which extended the validity of national legislation regarding the import of vehicles into the territory of Belarus until July 1, 2011. From this date, the protocol on temporary exemptions will expire. This means that unified customs duty and tax rates for all CU countries will apply to imported passenger cars. The current customs duties and taxes in Russia were taken as the basis for such duties and rates. According to experts, they exceed the current customs duty rates for car imports in Belarus by four times or more. The agreement contains transitional provisions according to which cars imported into Belarus and Kazakhstan after January 1, 2010, at rates different from Russian ones or from those established by the unified customs tariff, will be subject to customs duties in the amount of the difference of underpaid payments when sold in Russia. This restriction will be in effect until January 1, 2013. -0-