Immigrants Rebate
Section 120 (1) (b) of the Customs & Excise Act (Chapter 23:02) as read with Section 105 of the General Regulations and Section 12(3) of the Value Added Tax Act (Chapter 23:12) provides for a rebate of duty and import VAT on household and personal effects and other goods for personal use that are imported by qualifying individuals and not¬ companies. Goods imported for commercial or trade purposes do not qualify for a rebate under these provisions.
Conditions to Be Met at the time of Importation.
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The goods should have been owned by the immigrant at the time of his/her arrival and at the time of their importation.
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The goods must also be in physical existence and fully paid for by the immigrant before the time of his/her arrival.
Who qualifies for the Immigrant’s Rebate?
The rebate is granted to an individual who comes to Zimbabwe:
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To take up employment or permanent residence; or
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As a visitor but remains to take up employment or permanent residence; or
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As a diplomat but remains to take up employment or permanent residence or to attend any educational institution; or
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For the purposes of attending any educational institution.
In the circumstances mentioned in a, b, c and d above, spouses of such persons are included. However any person who has previously resided or been employed in Zimbabwe who has been outside Zimbabwe for less than two years is excluded.
The person requesting for the rebate will be required to attend an interview at the port through which the goods are being imported and will be required to complete a questionnaire and answer to issues peculiar to each case.
What documents does one need to submit to be considered for the immigrants rebate?
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Employment record or residence permit
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Proof that he/she has completed such study; for a person who has been on a course of study
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Proof that he/she has terminated such contract; for a person who has been on a contract of employment
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Proof of such absence from Zimbabwe; for a person who has been on an extended absence from Zimbabwe
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A certificate stating that such effects and other goods were owned by him at the time of his/her arrival and at their time of importation
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In the case of a motor vehicle a certificate stating that a rebate has not been granted to him/her in respect of a motor vehicle during the previous 4 years
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A certificate that such effects and other goods are intended for his/her own use in Zimbabwe and will not be used for trade or commercial purposes
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A written undertaking that such effects and other goods will not be sold or disposed of in any manner and that he/she shall not leave Zimbabwe for a period of more than six months within twenty four months of arrival as stated below in conditions after importing
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A written undertaking to pay such duty as may become due if he/she decides to sell or disposed of in any manner or if he/she decides to leave Zimbabwe for a period of more than six months within twenty four months of arrival as stated below in conditions after importing
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Satisfactory evidence relating to the acquisition, ownership or purchase of the goods as may be required by the Commissioner.
TIME OF ARRIVAL
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For an immigrant coming for his first time to Zimbabwe, the time of arrival is the first occasion on which he enters Zimbabwe after the grant of his employment permit or resident permit.
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If the immigrant does not depart from Zimbabwe after the grant of his permit, the time of arrival is the first occasion he imports personal goods or personal vehicle within three months from the date of grant of the permit.
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For an immigrant who has previously resided or been employed in Zimbabwe and who:-
has been on a course of study, the time of arrival is the first occasion on which he returns to Zimbabwe after successfully completing such course of study; or
has been on contract of employment, the first occasion on which he returns to Zimbabwe after the expiry of such contract; or
has been on an extended absence for any other reason, the first occasion on which he returns to Zimbabwe:
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Time of arrival for a former resident who enters Zimbabwe as a visitor and does not depart from Zimbabwe shall be deemed to be the first occasion on which he imports any personal and household effects and other goods in terms of this section within three months from the grant of his permanent returning resident status.
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For a former diplomat who remains in Zimbabwe to take up employment or permanent residence, his time of arrival is the first occasion he imports any personal and household effects and other goods in terms of this section within three months from the date of grant of his new employment permit or residence permit.
Please note that in all cases under (b), (d), and ( e ) above if the immigrant fails to import within the stipulated three months’ period any goods purchased and imported after the three months would not qualify.
CONDITIONS
AFTER IMPORTING
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The immigrant shall not sell or dispose of in any manner or display for sale goods in respect of which such rebate was granted within twenty four(24) months after the date of being granted such rebate unless:-
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Written permission is granted by the Commissioner and
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The duty which would have been payable at the time of granting the rebate is paid
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An immigrant who has been granted a rebate of duty who emigrates or departs from Zimbabwe for a period of more than six (6) months within twenty four (24) months from the date the rebate was granted shall remove the goods from Zimbabwe on his departure, unless:-
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Prior written permission is granted by the Commissioner to leave the effects or such other goods in Zimbabwe
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The duty which would have been payable at the time of granting the rebate is paid
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NB: Any violation of the conditions in (a) and (b) above makes the goods liable to seizure. misuse or attempts to misuse the provision on rebates is an offence in terms of section 174 and 184(g) of the Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02) and can result in prosecution or penalties or seizure of the goods.
An immigrant can import duty free;
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personal and household effects such as clothing, linen and furniture,
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Motor vehicles limited to one vehicle per individual.
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No person under the age of 16 is allowed to import a vehicle under this rebate.
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Motor vehicles designed to transport 15 or more people including the driver and vehicles whose gross vehicle weight exceeds 5 tonnes are also excluded from this rebate.