The Guyana Revenue Authority continues to sensitise taxpayers, the general public and other stakeholders on matters pertaining to the various legislations it administers. In this regard, the following information seeks to give clarity on the statutes, rules and procedures which would apply to the grant of tax exemptions to re-migrants, settlers and returning students.

AGENCIES

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are the two agencies involved in the process of determining the eligibility of a person for the relevant status and tax exemptions, respectively. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs determines whether a person qualifies as a re-migrant, settler or a returning student, and the Guyana Revenue Authority determines the items and the level of tax exemptions to which such a person is entitled.

GENERAL APPLICATION PROCEDURE

An application must be made in person to the Re-migration Officer at the Ministry of Foreign affairs within the first six (6) months of resettlement. If a person has satisfied the eligibility criteria, the Ministry sends the relevant documents to the Guyana Revenue Authority where the qualified applicant would be subject to an interview by an officer of the Tax Exemption Processing and Verification Division. Once the interview has been completed and the officer is satisfied with the documentary evidence supporting the tax exemptions requested, the qualified applicant would be issued with a CG Tax Exemption letter, outlining the tax exemptions granted and the conditions under which such exemptions were granted.

DEFINITIONS

The following categories of persons, once granted the relevant status by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would be eligible for tax exemptions:

1. Qualifying re-migrants– means Guyanese citizens returning to reside in Guyana after a period of continuous bona fide residence of at least five years abroad who have attained the age of eighteen as of the date of return and met the criteria specified in the regulations. Guyana recognizes as citizens by descent, the children of Guyanese by birth, wherever those children are born. Further, each member of a family, once they satisfy the residency and age requirements, is treated as an individual re-migrant.
2. Settlers– mean any person not being a resident of Guyana who satisfies the Commissioner, within three months of his entry, that he intends to take up residence in Guyana for a minimum period of three years.
3. Returning students– means Guyanese students who have completed at least three consecutive years of training overseas.

TYPES OF TAX EXEMPTIONS AND LEGISLATIONS

1. IMPORT DUTY – Motor Vehicle-The amended Section 23 (c) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, provides for the following rates to be applied on motor vehicles imported for private use by re-migrants, settlers, and returning students, as set out in Table A-2-2 of the Excise Tax Regulations. Value Added Tax and Customs Duty are exempt.This legislation went into effect on February 11, 2022 and applies to all imported motor vehicles, regardless of their age. 
   

   TABLE A-2-2 Reduced Excise Rates on Motor Vehicles
   Total exemptions shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of the Customs Act, Cap. 82:01.
   Re-migrants and Settlers and Returning Students.	Cubic Capacity
   	Less than 1500cc	5%
   	1500-1800	5%
   	1801-2000	10%
   	2001-3000	10%
   	Above 3000	10%

2. Household Effects & Baggage– the First Schedule Part 111 B (ii) Item 5 (3) to the Customs Act, exempts import duty on household effects for a settler, while Item 5 (4) exempts import duty on the baggage and household effects of a qualifying re-migrant. This means that no import duty is payable on a reasonable quantity of tools of trade, personal and household effects imported by a settler or a qualifying re-migrant. However, no exemptions are granted to the importation of arms and ammunition and any communication equipment or any other items which may require an import licence or special approvals; such licenses and approvals must be obtained from the relevant agencies along with the payment of the relevant taxes.

OBLIGATIONS

1. A qualifying re-migrant must import the motor vehicle, within six months of re-assuming residence; and a settler must import the motor vehicle within six months after their arrival in Guyana.
2. The re-migrant or settler cannot transfer or lease the motor vehicle prior to the expiration of three years in the case of a used vehicle, and five years in the case of a new vehicle.
3. The re-migrant or settler must reside at least one hundred and eighty-three (183) days for each year until the three year or five-year period, as the case may be, has expired.
4. If a re-migrant or a settler fails to comply with numbers 2 and 3 above, the foregone taxes shall become due and payable pro-rata in accordance with section 23 of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.

Contact Us:
Tax Advisory Services Section
Communications & Tax Advisory Services Division
Guyana Revenue Authority
200 -201 Camp Street
Georgetown
Guyana
Tel: 227-6060 | 227-8222 Ext: 1201-1204
Email: gravat@gra.gov.gy
Website: www.gra.gov.gy