Customs reduces rules and time for paperwork

In 2019, Customs of Ecuador carried out several actions to strengthen customs intelligence that seeks to eliminate corruption and fight against smuggling.

Customs reduces rules and time for paperwork

This process is carried out through inter-institutional and inter-municipal information , which seeks to break non-tariff barriers such as time, services, processes and technology.

An important milestone for Ecuador was to make the first cadastre of foreign trade operators and establish the Single Taxpayers Registry (RUC) as the only internal and external trade code.

“This allowed that of 58,000 operators registered in Customs, only 26,000 pass the qualification process,” said Maria Alejandra Muñoz , director of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (Senae) to this newspaper.

In the process it was also important to make the traceability of information and movement of money, so an agreement was signed with the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit (UAFE) and the Internal Revenue Service.

Among the results have been operators with RISE that imported more than $ 300,000 a year, when tax regulations allow them only up to $ 60,000. Also natural persons who were not obliged to keep accounts , but their movements of purchases in international trade were superior to the legal.

The Senae transmits this information to the SRI so that the tax control body makes the respective changes.

For his part, Ricardo Valero, a member of the board of the Ecuadorian American Chamber (Amcham), says that there is now a decrease in the times of customs clearance. “From five it happened to almost three days, which did not happen in 10 years,” he said.

It considers that the application of the international figure of Authorized Economic Operator is still pending, whose certification will provide facilities for importers and exporters .

Exchange of information

Ecuador opened up to the world, uses customs intelligence and feeds on countries in the region such as the United States . This allows to have information of the merchandise that comes to improve the controls. “We know what comes and who declares in the country of origin. With this information we can make a previous intelligence, ”said Muñoz.

The head of this entity explained that at Customs there were 4,400 rules to regulate international trade . In 2019, 20 resolutions focused on trade facilitation were issued, which is confirmed by Fernando Barciona , General Manager of Almacenes Boyacá, who says that Customs has improved significantly, both in response speed and in the improvement of internal processes.

“Before taking out a merchandise it took up to 15 days, today it is done in three. When a claim was made, we had to wait several weeks and now a few days, ”he said.

Another process of control is the office of Ethical Strengthening and Fight against Corruption , which seeks to provide officials with good service to customers. About 300 complaints have been received .

Muñoz explained that this is a formalization process . “Making life easier for the formal, that is why it is necessary to correct those who do not comply,” he concluded. ( I )

https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/aduana-reduce-normas-tramites