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Customs want competent panel to review challenges to levies
View(s):By Chris Kamalendran
Customs Unions have proposed that a competent panel be appointed to review appeals for tax amnesty, if Government intends to allow challenges to customs levies.
The Customs Officers Union submitted their proposals to Director General Jagath Wijeweera, after raising objections that the proposed scheme could be advantageous to big-time racketeers.
The proposals were submitted to be taken up by the Parliamentary Consultative Committee which met on Thursday. Mr Wijeweera represented the Customs Department.
The Customs officers have proposed that the review committee could be headed by a former Supreme Court Judge, but should include at least two nominees appointed by the Director General of Customs and two other representatives appointed by the Finance Ministry.
They have pointed out that the panel should be competent to technically evaluate the appeals.The Government is to make Customs levies subject to challenge before the Tax Appeals Commission retrospectively from April 1, 2011. The Union also has proposed changes in the present system of distribution of rewards, after the Government decided to cut down on the quantum of benefits to them.Government had proposed that 50% of the rewards which is currently shared by the Customs officials and the informants, be shared with other officials in the department, and the balance utilised for ‘capacity building’ of the service.
The Union has proposed that 40% of the rewards be allocated to the Treasury, 40% for Customs officials, informants and other officials in the department, while the balance 20% allocated to a fund for capacity building, payment of compensation for officials injured or death while on duty, and for programmes to control trafficking of narcotics.
Customs officials last week threatened to stage a strike over the proposed amendments. However, the union met with the Customs Director General and submitted their proposals.
They have given time till tomorrow for the consideration of their proposals.
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