SEDD carries its campaigns on Sharjah’s markets

Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD” received 59 complaints related to Value Added Tax “VAT” during the first month of applying the VAT.

The Department started immediately to communicate with consumers to see the details of complaints in accordance with the procedures as well as to supervise all economic establishments to ensure that the application of the tax and that the increase in prices are not exaggerated.

Therefore, the Economic Department organizes intensive campaigns on the emirate's markets and various economic establishments to raise awareness among traders and consumers and ensure compliance with the laws regulating value added tax.

Also, it works on combating all aspects of fraud and commercial manipulation and reduce the negative practices that may be resorted to by some.

All of this come within SEDD’s concerns to implement its comprehensive field plan which adopts the fact of having specialized team of qualified commercial officers in the Department of Control and Commercial Protection Department to visit the economic establishments.

HE Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, SEDD Chairman, stated that the Department is working in cooperation with all concerned authorities to control the market and ensure the safety of all economic practices.

All of this is done in order to grantee the commitment of all economic establishments in the Emirate with the laws regulating value added tax which came into effect from the beginning of January 2018.

Furthermore, HE stressed that all investors are subjected to VAT should not raise prices under the pretext of VAT to avoid the possibility of legal accountability, which may result in major irregularities. Also, HE emphasized on the need to investigate the accuracy and information from the data and statements issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority.

From his side, Salim Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of Commercial Control and Protection Department, said that the complaints received on the first day of this year regarding the application of value added tax were the exploitation of traders and raising prices unjustifiably and not contain important information such as "total price, tax value, etc.”

Al Suwaidi clarified that the Department took immediate action after receiving this type of complaints by transferring requests to its supervisory teams with evidence and data sent as the invoice or the subject of the complaint.

Such a thing is done in order to ensure that such violations are monitored and take the necessary measures in accordance with the laws governing value added tax.

Additionally, he stressed that consumers should keep purchase bill, which is a reference to them and the guarantor of their rights if they wish to file a complaint.

Also, the Department offers several channels to receive complaints through the Call Center at 80080000 or consumer protection website www.shjconsumer.ae. In addition, the Department looked into number of complaints related to value added tax and taken the necessary measures to resolve them.

Then, he pointed out that the Department is always taking the needed actions in the supervision area in cooperation with various competent authorities to ensure that all economic establishments operating in the Emirate comply with the requirements imposed by the Federal Tax Authority.

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