The Customs did not accept the VAT exemption of glossy paper instructed in the letter written by the Ministry of Economy

The chairman of the board of directors of the Association of Paper and Cardboard Importers announced the letter of glossy paper exemption from VAT sent to the Customs by the Ministry of Economy and said, “I am afraid, hundreds of glossy paper containers have been accumulated in the customs warehouses, and the customs does not accept the exemption.”

 

In an interview with the cultural journalist of the Pouya Journalists Club, Seyed Hassan Mirbagheri, The chairman of the board of directors of the Association of Paper, Cardboard and Cellulose Products Importers, referring to the effect of the exchange rate on the paper market, said, “With regard to the fact that we are on the early days of activities in the current year, it has not had much impact on the paper market, but the exchange rate fluctuation will naturally affect the market of the imported goods.”

 

Referring to the unresolved issue of glossy paper shipments remaining at customs in the second half of last year, he said, “Unfortunately, it has been three months since the glossy paper cargos were suspended and not allowed to be cleared due to personal attitude of the customs because the customs has announced the glossy paper is not exempted from VAT, and the 9% VAT must be paid while the glossy paper is exempted from VAT payment.”

 

He continued, “Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance explicitly announced the glossy paper is exempted from the VAT in its letter to the customs, the customs has not cleared the paper yet.”

 

Stating that the method of customs in this respect will cause the increase in the price of glossy paper on the market, Mirbaghery said, “It is interesting that the customs says that the Standard Organization should declare the exemption of glossy paper, and the Standard Organization responds that it is not principally our responsibility to do this according to rules and regulations.”

 

Regarding the volume of the paper, he said, “We do not have a precise figure, but according to importers, hundreds of containers have be banned from clearance for three months. We have already had some meetings in the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, and the headquarters of paper crisis has informed us that if Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance announce the exemption of glossy paper, the customs is required to accept clearance, but it has not happened so far.”