Starting February 15, even phones imported for personal use will be tax liable

Baku/08.02.23/Turan: From February 15, mobile phones imported into Azerbaijan for personal use will also be tax liable. Owners will have to pay a fee of 36% of its value and declare the goods at customs. As Turan was told in the State Customs Committee, According to part 9 of Appendix 1 of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 305 of October 14, 2013, mobile phones imported from abroad are subject to declaration at the customs authority. However, this rule was not respected in practice. Now the import of phones without a declaration will be strictly suppressed.

The declaration on the import of the phone can be submitted to the customs authority in writing or through electronic kiosks, as well as through the e.customs.gov.az portal or the Smart Customs mobile application.

“Failure to declare a mobile phone moved across the customs border entails administrative responsibility,” the agency said. The committee said that all mobile devices imported into the country, regardless of their value, must be declared.

“Customs duty is payable if the value of a phone imported by a citizen exceeds $800, and the value of a phone imported through an online order exceeds $300. Commission will be charged on the amount exceeding the specified amounts. That is, if a citizen brought a phone worth $900, the duty will be withheld from $100,” the ministry said.

In turn, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport informed that from February 15, IMEI will not be registered for mobile phones imported into the country by individuals for personal use and not declared at the customs authorities.

It should be noted that for the registration of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity - the international identifier of mobile equipment) of the Ministry of Communications, you have to pay another 20 to 150 dollars, depending on the price of the phone.

Economist and businessman Nazim Beidamirli said that this innovation serves the interests of monopoly companies. “Therefore, the purchase amount without paying tax has been reduced to $300 for e-commerce. All this serves monopoly companies, not citizens,” Beydamirli said. In his opinion, state institutions contribute to the artificial rise in prices in Azerbaijan. According to him, after this decision, prices for mobile phones will rise in the country. ----21B06----