Anyone in Fiji who opens a bank account, registers a business, registers a vehicle or obtains a driving license from August 15 will be required to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA).
This follows the announcement in the 2010 Revised Budget on July 2 by Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to have this step be made compulsory.
“Anyone (including minors) who opens a bank account, registers a business with the Registrar of Companies office, registers vehicles at the Land Transport Authority (LTA), obtains a driving license or any other transaction contained in the LTA, will need to present a TIN,” said FIRCA chief executive officer Jitoko Tikolevu .
Tikolevu said the TIN can be obtained by completing a TIN registration form and handing it to the Customer Inquiry Center, FIRCA at its office in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa.
The registration form must be accompanied with a valid identification card (drivers’ license, FNPF card, certified photo of page of Passport), Birth Certificate or Certified Copy of Passport Photo in case of minor.
He advised all existing bank account holders to ensure that TIN is provided to the banks by December 31, 2010 after which a review will be undertaken to determine compliance status.
“All all existing vehicle owners are to ensure that TIN is provided to LTA at the time of renewal of registration,” he said.
“To obtain TIN for business registration at the registrar of Companies office, preliminary documents from Companies office is required.”
Tikolevu added the official TIN registration letter from FIRCA will be supplied to Banks, LTA and the Registrar of Companies office to confirm the validity of such TIN.
TIN is a unique identifier issued by FIRCA to identify all categories of tax and duty payers. The use of a TIN helps FIRCA handle queries, trace correspondences and store information for each person that is registered for customs and tax purposes.
It is also used by FIRCA to observe where the person is complying with customs and tax legislation requirements such as annual income tax returns.
By Rachna Lal
Fijilive
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