Import of Duty Free Vehicles in 2020
A total of 44 mainly public servants and armed forces personnel imported and registered duty free vehicles in the four month period from 20 January 2020 to 22 May 2020, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs 82.28 million to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), data on a Finance Ministry upload on its website today (Monday 3 April) showed. These duty free vehicle permits were issued since 31 October 2019, it added.
The Ministry further said that since import restriction were imposed vis-à-vis extraordinary gazette number 2176/19 dated 22 May 2020, no luxury tax exemptions have been granted after that date. It also said that firms are not entitled for luxury tax exemptions under Finance Act Number 35 of 2018. ‘Accordingly no firms have been granted luxury tax exemption as of 31.12.2022,’ it said.
Meanwhile, mainly the top 20 public servants/defence forces personnel enjoyed the highest vehicle tax free permits during the above period.