- Instructions for activating electronic payment system for duties and taxes and not to receive in cash more than 5000 pounds for revenues insurance.

Dr. El Morsy El Said Hegazy – Minister of Finance received a report from customs authority which demonstrated achieved revenues of LE. 8.398 billion in the first semester  of the current fiscal year, with an increase of 2 billion and 90 million compared by the same period of the last fiscal year, by increase percentage of 33%.

The Minister of Finance noted that this significant increase in customs revenues confirms commercial (trading) activity growth incoming to Egypt, which refers to noticeable improvement on economic performance during the recent period, beside the successful anti-customs evasion measures taken by the Ministry of Finance during the last fiscal year, as this increase comes after the decline in customs revenues in the first semester of the FY 2011/2012 as a percentage of 8% compared to the same period of FY 2010/2011.

Dr. Al Morsy, also said this report illustrated that customs authority got about LE. 10.497 billion in favor of the Egyptian tax authority including 10 billion and 14 million sales taxes and about LE. 483 million general taxes (commercial and industrial profits tax).

Mohamed Al-Salahawy – Head of Customs Authority demonstrated that targeted customs revenues in the current budget amount LE. 20.758 billion against LE. 18 billion in the last fiscal year budget and he noted that the second semester of any fiscal year witness usually achieving bigger revenues than the first semester

for example;

The First semester revenues for the current fiscal year amount 40.5% of the total targeted revenues, compared to the first semester of  the last fiscal year whichonly achieved 35%.

In the context of implementation of The Minister of Finance instructions to facilitate on dealers with customs authority and all other institutions and authorities of The Ministry of Finance, Al-Salahawy pointed to publication of instructions to all ports and customs ports for commitment to apply the new electronic collection and payment system of governmental dues and not to accept payment of taxes and customs in cash, except in two cases, namely; The incoming personal baggage's duties accompanied by returnees from abroad and the second not exceeding the outstanding value of amounts only LE. 5000.

He also said that implementation of the electronic payment systems to taxes and customs dues significantly affects improving and facilitating the measures for the release of shipments form abroad.

Such systems enable customers to pay electronically customs duties and outstanding taxes on their shipments from abroad, once they are notified their value deducted from their bank accounts, which help them to avoid risks of payment by check or in cash, consequently accelerat to release incoming messages at the same day they arrive, which saves time and efforts for members of business community.

He added the electronic system has proven its positive effects on the national economy growth and reserve public money through adding customs and tax revenues to the consolidated treasury account once electronically payment instead of an average of two weeks at the payment by check or cash.