Change in VAT: FCCC monitors businesses to ensure they comply

THE Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) is continuing its monitoring and outreach to ensure businesses comply with the changes in Value Added Tax (VAT) that will come into effect from August 1.
This means the 22 essential items will remain at zero-rated VAT while the remaining list of products will increase its VAT rate from nine per cent to 15 per cent.
Responding to queries from this newspaper, FCCC stated that as a market regulator and enforcement agency, it had undertaken the necessary enforcement and monitoring activities under its ambit in a bid to ensure that traders were informed.
FCCC also stated it had not received any complaints of alleged offenders who increased the price before its roll out across the country.
“Post-budget announcement inspections are continuing, we will release numbers once these have concluded, or at the end of the month. Please note that the prerogative to impose fines lies with the court and not FCCC.
“It is also important to note that our purview only covers the zero VAT rated items and price-controlled items.
“For items outside of this, such as cigarettes etcetera, traders can price at their discretion, although egregious pricing of items that may be important due to circumstance (such as sanitiser during the pandemic) can be reported to us.”
Additionally, consumers were also urged to report to FCCC if they were seeing increases in prices based on VAT by traders at the moment.
“FCCC appreciates if consumers can directly report such matters to us, with supporting evidence for investigation and appropriate action to be taken.
“Evidence is paramount for our investigations, and while we are doing our due diligence, consumer protection is everyone’s business.
“In the interim, FCCC teams are on the ground and even deployed in selected rural area tours.”