European Union donates IT and laboratory equipment worth 2.3 million euros to Indirect Taxation Authority BiH

The European Union has donated 1250 laptops and desktop PCs, servers, firewalls as well as other high-quality laboratory equipment worth 2.3 million euros to Indirect Taxation Authority BiH.  The equipment will help the ITA to improve its everyday business, apply qualified digital signature, customs and taxation simplified procedures and to further improve performance of the customs laboratory.

The Head of the EU Delegation and the EU Special Representative in BiH Ambassador Johann Sattler visited the Indirect Taxation Authority Customs laboratory in Ramici near Banja Luka on Tuesday 21 June 2022 and, together with the Director Miro Dzakula, toured the ITA BiH premises and inspected the donated equipment.

“This equipment very important for BiH which is on its way to the EU. BiH needs to have the modern systems of quality control harmonised with the EU standards and facilitate business to their business efficiently. In the last 10 years the EU has provided to ITA BiH high quality equipment worth over 10 million euros. We are also supporting ITA in general by renovating and building border crossings across the country.  BiH is part of the European family, you will become member of the EU and we are here to help especially when the times are hard”, said Ambassador Sattler.

The European Union has also provided LIMS software to the ITA BiH customs laboratory which is used for data management in the laboratory and helps the laboratory to improve risk management. This tool will significantly improve performance of the customs on the field making Bosnia and Herzegovina the only country in the region to have this tool.

“The Director of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, Miro Džakula, emphasized that the European Union has been assisting the Administration since its establishment.” So far, the EU has invested about 35 million euros in the construction and reconstruction of border crossings, while investments in IT equipment amounted to about 12 million euros. In addition, the EU, has financed several twinning projects to help us harmonize tax and customs legislation in BiH with the EU legislation and we are really grateful for this significant support“, said Dzakula.

From 1 August 2022, the ITA BiH will start using the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) at the national level. The implementation of the new law on customs policy from 1 August will enable the application of simplified customs procedures, including AEO (Authorized Economic Operator).

As of 1 August 2022, ITA BiH will start using the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) enabling the business community to apply for simplified customs procedures. This means that a companies would be able to do them self the customs paperwork and can ship goods any time without waiting for customs clearance house to be open.

Following one year of using NCTS, BiH will be able to apply for a membership at the international NCTS introducing paperless transit with countries members of the NCTS (EU member states and other BiH trading partners). Membership at the international NCTS will enable less expensive trade and significantly reduce the waiting at the borders.