Prices hike after Revenue Authority increase custom tax

By Awan Achiek

Prices of commodities hiked in the market after the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) raised customs duty rate on imports to 300 South Sudanese Pounds.

In October 2023, SSRA announced in a circular that the rates of conversion of merchandise had been increased from 90 SSP per dollar to 300 SSP.

Truck drivers at the Nimule border point with neighboring Uganda have been protesting the measure that was effected on November 1.

Deng Daniel, Chairman of South Sudan Clearing Agents Freight Forwarding Association said traders have been forced to transfer the burden to customers.

“As traders and business community, whatever you spent, when you are importing goods, you put it on the prices of the goods,” Deng told the Dawn last week in Nimule town.

He said that businesses are struggling amid the hike in customs duty rate.

“Of course that increment has some impact and the Financial Act also has some increment and they are various according to goods that are being imported, so there are total changes and double taxes are being recorded,” he said.

In December last year, Albino Dak the Deputy Commissioner General for South Sudan Revenue Authority said the decision to increase the customs rate for imported goods was done according to law and won’t be reversed after the outcry from traders.

He explained that the customs duty rate was fixed when $100 was exchanged at SSP 600, adding that the green buck is now exchanging for more than SSP 100,000.

Dak said that if the value of the SSP depreciates further against the dollar, the customs rate could be increased further from SSP 300 to SSP 500.