Motoring With Tawanda Matanhire: Car Rebates For PWDs


Many are not aware of how motor vehicle rebates work and how to engage themselves as beneficiaries. This week I will disseminate such knowledge to those ignorant of the facility and how they might enjoy the benefits thereof.

In this article I will explain what rebates are and how best one can benefit from them.

There are three scenarios in this case and the most known is when one stays outside the country for a while and returns back to Zimbabwe. The other two include when one is physically handicapped and lastly being a part of Zimbabwe’s civil service.

After a number inquiries from people living with disabilities (PWDs) about how they could benefit from the scheme, this week I will mainly dwell on the service for them.

What Is A Rebate?
Understanding this term is the first priority for one to appreciate and adopt the process. Generally, a rebate is a refund of part of the customs duty that was originally paid for an import, in this case a car.

A rebate is one of the many possible incentives that may be offered to help sweeten a car import deal and phenomenally saves you some money in the process.

While there are a lot of misconceptions about how the system works other people have been benefiting from vehicle rebates for quite a long time while some may have been ignorant of the facility.

In terms of Section 120 of the Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02), as read with Statutory Instrument 257 of 2003 and Statutory Instrument of 101 of 2011, a physically handicapped person can import one passenger or one light commercial motor vehicle without payment of the applicable Customs Duty and Surtax.

According to the section, these are the only individuals who can benefit from the scheme but there are certain obligations or vetting exercises they should comprehend with before enjoying the privilege.

These include possessing a current letter from a specialist doctor stating the following:

-the nature and degree of disability giving indications of the type of vehicle you could drive under the circumstances.

-production of an invoice/proforma invoice /document for the recommended motor vehicle which should include the following information:

• Engine number
• Chassis number
• Type of transmission
• Year of manufacture
• Application letter
• Proof of source of funds
• Copy of identification particulars
• Proof of current residence

The person who qualifies for this privilege should be a physically handicapped person whose disability is not temporary. However, for this to work, the Commissioner must be satisfied that the vehicle is to be used for the benefit of that person.

The vehicle should possess automatic transmission or alternatively special controls that render it suitable for use by that person.

The make and model of vehicles which qualifies under this privilege should be a sedan or a station wagon classified under tariff heading 8703 and carrying not more than 10 persons.

Applicable light commercial motor vehicles recommended for beneficiaries are those classified under any of the following tariff codes:

• 8704.2130
• 8704.2140
• 8704.3130
• 8704.3140

This is according to Statutory Instrument 111 of 2012.

Beneficiaries should take note of the age restriction which requires the year of manufacture not to be more than 10 years after the date of the vehicle’s manufacture.

One is then required to submit or post their application to the nearest Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) offices and an invitation for an interview will follow so as to ascertain the correctness of the application and other submitted documents.

After the application is approved, the applicant will be issued with a letter granting the suspension of Customs Duty and Surtax only and such letter should be attached when the vehicle is finally imported.

If suspension of duty is not granted, the applicant will have to pay duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) when the vehicle is finally imported. The disposal conditions for a vehicle whose duty has been suspended is five years unless the Commissioner has given written permission for its disposal, and the suspended duty has been paid.

This is one-way PWDs can make a saving which will go a long way as a privilege from the government. A lot more could afford recently imported vehicles from the same or even less amount of money as compared to buying cars locally.

Next week I will continue with the article explaining how civil servants as well as those returning into the country from abroad can benefit from the scheme.

Get in touch with me if you need any help or consultancy on motor vehicle sales in and outside the country. Nhau/Indaba

Whatsapp: 0775355031
Email: tmweshona@gmail.com

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