Returning residents who wish to import their vehicles must submit the following to the Comptroller of Customs, along with their letter and customs forms:
Note that exemptions are allowed on only one vehicle per person. If a family is returning to Trinidad and Tobago with more than one vehicle, each car must be registered to a different family member in order to access the tax and duty waivers on them all. The vehicle must be imported within six months prior to or after you return to Trinidad and Tobago.
For Diplomats, please note that in addition to the processes and documents outlined above, it is also necessary for diplomats to produce to the Customs and Excise Division proof of their diplomatic status as evident in documents provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (usually a letter received on arrival in the country or shortly thereafter).
For Charitable organisations, sporting bodies, corporations and other customers, you must send a letter to the Comptroller of Customs that indicates the type of activity that your organisation is engaged in, that the efforts of the organisation are non-profit, and how the duty relief would benefit the wider public. In addition to this letter, the following documents must be submitted:
The letter should be sent to:
The Comptroller of Customs
Customs and Excise Division
Custom House
Nicholas Court
Corner Abercromby Street and Independence Square
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 625-3311-9
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.
Returning nationals are eligible to import personal and household items and vehicles at reduced rates of duty. To qualify, you must:
Diplomats are eligible to have all taxes and duties waived on all imported items, provided that the items leave the country when they do. Should the items remain, all duties and taxes from which they were initially exempt must be paid in full, except in cases where the items remain in the possession of the high commission or embassy.
For Charitable organisations, sporting bodies, corporations and other customers, tax and duty can be waived on goods imported for a charitable purpose, or for use in a not-for-profit enterprise.
There are no fees associated with this application process.
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There are various tax and duty concessions available to returning nationals, diplomats, corporations, charitable organisations , sporting bodies and religious organisations involved in importing household effects, goods and vehicles. However, the extent of relief and process for accessing the waivers vary from group to group.
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