Customs Duty, VAT, Property, and Income Tax all applicable from Jan. 2021

December 26, 2020 – His Mount Vema Majesty’s Treasury has confirmed that in addition to Income Tax, Customs Duty, Consumption Tax, Property Tax, and Income Tax will all be applicable from January 1st, 2021 as follows:
 
Customs Duty
Customs Duty:
The Kingdom of Mount Vema will impose tariffs or "customs duties" on imports of goods as of January 1st, 2021. The duty will be levied at the time of import paid by the importer of record. Individuals arriving in Mount Vema may be exempt from duty on a limited number of purchases, and on goods temporarily imported (such as laptop computers etc). The customs duties will vary by country of origin and product, which may range from zero to 80% of the value of the goods. Failure to comply with customs rules can result in seizure of goods and civil and criminal penalties against involved parties. All goods entering the Kingdom of Mount Vema are subject to inspection prior to legal entry.
 
Duty-Free Goods
Travelers may bring goods into the Kingdom of Mount Vema duty-free. These goods may be
bought at the port and airport without attracting the usual government taxes and then brought into another country duty-free. His Mount Vema Majesty’s Government may impose allowances to limit the number or value of duty-free items that one person can bring into the country. These restrictions may not apply only to tobacco, wine, spirits, cosmetics, gifts, and souvenirs. Foreign diplomats are entitled to duty-free goods. Duty-free goods may be imported and stocked in His Mount Vema Majesty’s Government bonded warehouse.
 
Tariffs (imports): 0% to 80% (Percentage of the Price, except when exemptions apply)    
This is a tax imposed on imports of goods from jurisdictions outside Mount Vema. The rate may be adjusted from time to time per types of item, reduced or waved when reciprocal free trade arrangements apply, or reciprocal use of free ports.  
 
Policy on economic barrier to entry applies to tariffs
Note: Mount Vema taxes all goods entering into its market, and especially those which can be produced domestically. There are some economic barriers to entry, which is a cost that must be incurred by a new entrant into the Mount Vema Market when incumbents do not have or have not had to incur.

• Distributor agreements - Exclusive agreements must be made with licensed distributors or licensed retailers.
• Intellectual property - Potential entrant require access to equally efficient production technology as the one already in use in order to freely enter the market. Trademarks, Servicemarks and Patents owners have the legal right to stop other firms producing a product for a given period of time, and so restrict entry into the market.
• Restrictive practices - Agreements are required such as (landing slots) air transport agreements, etc.
• Supplier agreements - Exclusive agreements with key links in the supply chain are required.

 
Licensing and business registration requirements
All individuals and companies doing business in Mount Vema must obtain a Basic Business License and register their business. Some types of businesses require additional certification or permits beyond the Basic Business License and registration. The Office of Fair Trade ensures the health, safety, and economic welfare of District residents through licensing, inspection, compliance, and enforcement programs. In addition, the Office issues certain professional licenses, to regulate public space, and control land use through zoning.
 
Mount Vema requires a "Clearance Self-Certification" from most applicants, which is an affidavit stating that the applicant does not owe more than 500 golles to the District or to the State. Tour Guides must submit a Physician's Certificate. Fees for businesses licenses vary. For example the fee for a Special Event license such as a marathon is 1,000 golles. The license for a movie theater costs 5,000 golles per year, for a grocery store 2,000 golles per year, for a beauty shop 800 per year. Education, healthcare, physicians and other professionals also require occupational licenses, to meet quota limits on the number of people who can enter a certain profession.
 
Tariffs (exports): 10% fixed (Percentage of the Price, except when exemptions apply)    
This is a tax imposed on exports of goods to from jurisdictions outside Mount Vema. The rate may be adjusted, reduced, or waved when reciprocal free trade arrangements apply.
 
Consumption Tax
Consumption Tax: 10%
VAT (Value-Added Tax), levy on consumption spending on goods and services. This tax may be adjusted from time to time per category.
 
Excise Tax:
This is a levy on certain types of goods that may come into existence within the Vema Seamount territorial waters.
 
Salt Tax: 80% (Percentage of the Price)
Sugar Tax: 80% (Percentage of the Price)
Single Use Plastic Item Tax: 80% (Percentage of the Price) - (some exceptions may apply)
Tobacco Tax: 80% (Percentage of the Price)
Alcohol Tax: 60% (Percentage of the Price)
Gambling Tax: 60% (Percentage of the Annual Profits) 
Prostitution Tax: 50% (Each calendar day that the patron pays the prostitution services)
 
Property Tax
Site Value Tax:  5%
A levy on the value of the unit (a site used to moor a floating property) or a reclaimed land, paid annually by the owner (the leaseholder) of the unit (land) excluding the value of buildings and other improvements when such assets are not yet part of the site.
 
The levy on the value of the unit must be paid annually by the property owner (not the site owner) when, the value of the site includes the value of buildings and other improvements already part of the unit. 
 
Vacant Property Tax: 10%
A levy on vacant properties. This tax can be paid to the Revenue Services by the owner either annually, or as long as the property remains vacant.
 
Stamp Duty: 5% 
This is a tax imposed at the time of a real estate or title plan transaction (real estate transfer tax). It must be paid within 14 days of completion of a transaction, to the Revenue Services. If you have a solicitor, agent or conveyancer, they’ll usually file your return and pay the tax on your behalf on the day of completion and add the amount to their fees.
 
District Tax: 
District Tax is a levy based on a fixed amount for each band to fund district expenditure. The more valuable the property, the higher the tax. The district expenditure includes garbage collection, waste management, the sewer system, breakwaters management, district police, and the fire rescue services. 

The occupiers of a property are liable, regardless of tenure, or the owners if the property is unoccupied, except if the property is a 'house in multiple occupation', in which case the landlord is liable for paying the District Tax. The property owner will be responsible for withholding the payment and sending the District Tax on to The Revenue Services each year.
 
District assigned bands - Annual Rate

• Eastland: Band A (Rate (700 golles)
• Northland: Band B (700 golles)
• Pashant: Band C (800 golles)
• Southland: Band D (900 golles)
• Bella Vista: Band E (1000 golles)
• San Miguel: Band F (1000 golles)
• Roseland: Band G (1000 golles)
• Westland: Band H (1000 golles)
• Maryland: Band I (1100 golles)
• Neverland: Band J (1200 golles)

 
Income Tax
Rent Tax: 5%
A levy based on rental income. The property owner will be responsible for withholding and sending the Rent Tax on to The Revenue Services each month.
 
Pension Tax: 5% (​The tax on State Pension and Workplace Pension) 
Corporate Income Tax: 10%
Individual Income Tax: 5%
Income from investments - Tax: 2.5%
Credits, including tax credits: 1.5%
Income from Charitable Activities - Tax: 0%
 
The taxable income of the taxpayer resident within the Vema Seamount Territorial waters will be the total income less income producing expenses and other deductions. Only the net gain from sale of property, including goods held for sale, will be included in income.
 
Income of a corporation's shareholders will include distributions of profits from the corporation. Deductions will include all income producing or business expenses including an allowance for recovery of costs of business assets.
 
The Kingdom of Mount Vema will require self-assessment of the tax and will require payers of some types of income to withhold tax from those payments. Advance payments of tax by taxpayers may be required. Taxpayers not timely paying tax owed may be subject to significant penalties, which may include jail for individuals or revocation of an entity's legal existence.
 
Employers Reporting (Individual Income Tax)
Employers will be responsible for Withholding and sending the Income Tax on to The Revenue Services each month, along with various other employment taxes. The amounts deducted from each payment to individual employees must be reported using an electronic submission on or before the day payment is made. When reporting employee income, it must include bonuses, overtime and non-cash payments such as "benefits in kind" (including the use of a company car, company property, etc). At the end of each tax year, the employer must give the employee the FormA121 as a certificate of Pay, and Tax deducted during the year.
 
A FormE121 must be given by an employer to an employee on cessation of employment to certify the employee's pay, and tax contributions from the start of the tax year to date of cessation and also certify that the deductions have been made in accordance with the instructions given by His Mount Vema Majesty's Revenue Services.
 
Legal Entities Reporting (Income Tax)
All legal entities must submit FormN1220 to the Revenue Services with their respective annual reports at the end of each tax year.