Oman's top customs officer warns traders against evasion of duties

Muscat: Traders can expect more customs officers to come knocking on their doors to examine the records as officials get tough on businesses trying to avoid paying their dues.
Colonel Khalifa Al Siyabi, the Director General of Oman Customs, said the customs department is becoming increasingly sophisticated in catching any evasion and warned that his investigators will soon start to rely on post transaction audits to chase underpaid duties.
“In the past, we used to look at customs declarations on a case by case basis. With the move to an audit regime, we will be looking more at patterns of behaviour and transactions across industry sectors. The law gives us five years to chase unpaid duty and we plan to use those five years to properly research and target offenders.
“I can say right now that if you examine your books and find you have underpaid duty in the past, it is better to come to us voluntarily and pay up, than to wait for us to knock on your door,” he said.
Customs will also be taking advantage of the Bayan systems to work more closely and better with various ministries to control the flow of goods in and out of Oman.
“In 2017, we will be working towards a single inspection to cover all interested agencies and integration of risk management for ministries. This will make it easier and faster for goods to move in and out and be cleared by all concerned parties.”
“Better performing technologies such as x-ray and other non-intrusive examination technologies will be added to their tool box. Customs will be able to process more cargo, faster and more accurately.
“New technology will allow us to clear more cargo without requiring physical inspection too often. In turn, this will allow goods reach the market faster. Also, by thus eliminating (the need to check) legitimate goods, our physical inspections will be fewer but better targeted,” he explained. According to Col. Siyabi, Customs has some very good plans for the future.