Georgetown: The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Wednesday announced that it waivered the value added tax (VAT) and duties on all medical supplies for testing, prevention and treatment of the coronavirus (COVID-19) while the agency will not be renewing or issuing first-time drivers and conductor licences and motor vehicle registrations until April 30.
The tax agency also announced that the payment of corporate and individual advance taxes and income taxes for businesses has been deferred until June 30.
The GRA said measures to reduce the influx or large gathering of taxpayers, while maintaining key functions of the Licence Revenue Operations, will include temporary suspension of the processing of the renewal of unexpired drivers licences, new drivers dicences, provisional drivers licences and conductor licences until April 30.
GRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia has already written Police Commissioner, Leslie James informing him that “in an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19, and the fact that over 800 persons visit the GRA’s headquarters in relation to licensing functions, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be implementing several measures with effect from Monday, March 30, 2020.”
According to the GRA, priority will be given to the processing of transactions for the renewal of expired drivers licences and duplicates for lost or damaged drivers licences.
GRA said the Motor Vehicle Transfers Unit would be temporarily suspending the processing of updates on Motor Vehicles Registrations until April 30, 2020.
These transactions include duplicate registration, change of colour, change of intended use, change of engine, and change of seating capacity. GRA says priority will be given to the processing of Transfer of Motor Vehicle Registrations.
Mr Statia told the Police Commissioner that in light of the circumstances, he does not want the police to charge anyone for unlicensed vehicles or driving without a valid licence.
“In this regard, I have requested the Mr. Wayne Austin, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Licensing Officer to contact your Traffic Chief Mr. Linden Isles to work out the necessary modalities so the GRA/GPF can make a joint statement to this effect, and with Guyana Police Force taking no enforcement action on unlicenced motor vehicles and persons whose Drivers Licences will be expired during this period,” the GRA Commissioner-General told the Police Commissioner.
The Guyana Revenue Authority will continue to work in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force to ensure a smooth implementation of these measures.
For the processing of new motor vehicle registrations, GRA says the auto dealers will be advised to lodge applications in bulk rather than individually.
The Motor Vehicle Examination Unit will suspend off-premises examination of motor vehicles until April 14th. Examination of motor vehicles will be conducted only at Smyth Street, the GRA added.
The Liquor Trade and Miscellaneous Licencing Unit will not be visiting business premises until April 30.
Further, the GRA for testing, prevention and treatment of the coronavirus (COVID-19) the waiver is not limited to soaps, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizers, sanitizing wipes, face masks, rubbing alcohol and multivitamins and Vitamin C tablets until June 30, 2020.
GRA says the waiver of 15,000 litres of rubbing alcohol have already been provided to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) since they are providing it through the Ministry of Public Health.
When news first broke in Guyana earlier this month that a woman, who had returned from Queens, New York, died from COVID-19, there was panic buying of Lysol and other sanitizing and disinfecting agents. As demand rose, prices for several of those items tripled.
Tax deductions for all donations made by local businesses to staff and health institutions for the treatment of the virus will also be made by GRA.
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