The import duty exemption threshold has been raised for items brought by travellers and individuals for personal use.
A rise in the duty exemption threshold to MVR 10,000 will take effect on July 1, Customs said. The current threshold for charging import duty on such items is MVR 6,000.
The change was made under the discretion afforded to the President by the import-export law to waive import duties. With the change, the relevant rules have been amended and published on the Customs website.
The change will benefit all Maldivian citizens, Customs said.
Despite raising the threshold to MVR 10,000 for duty exemption on items brought for personal use, the new limit does not apply to certain items.
These include items that contain nicotine, sheesha, e-cigarettes, energy drinks, single-use plastics, motorcycles, auto-cycles, four-wheeled vehicles, sea vessels and vehicle spare parts.
Moreover, the list also includes items found by Customs to not have been brought for personal use by misusing the duty exemption.
Similarly, items that Customs identify as business goods will be exempt from the change despite the price of the goods falling below MVR 10,000.
