By Kiana WilburgGuyana’s concession packages can be deemed by the average investor as a ‘sweetener’ to almost any investment agreement. And the best part about it all is that it can be accessed by both foreign and domestic companies.These incentive packages for investment opportunities are divided into several sectors designed to suit the unique nature of the relevant sectors.However, it is important to note that tax holidays are not automatic and investors must satisfy internal agency guidelines and rules before benefiting from any form of tax benefit.Once the investor has prepared and submitted a proposal, the new and improved Guyana Office for Investment, otherwise known as GO-Invest, issues a letter or sometimes a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) setting out the known tax incentive regimes that are applicable to the type of investment.GO-Invest’s recommendations on tax incentives are usually based on the level of the investment expected in the project, the level of employment to be created by the investment, the financial capability of the investor and the viability of the investor’s proposal.Where the condition precedents set out in the letter/MOU are satisfied by both the Government and the investor, an Investment Agreement (IA) is prepared with recommendations of tax incentives by Go-Invest.Meetings are set up with relevant state agencies, and if an investor chooses to continue, GO-Invest issues a letter setting out incentives and confirming general terms of the investment. Further talks leads to an MOU. State Agencies take over with requisite applications etc., and an Investment Agreement (IA) containing incentives is drafted and forwarded to Guyana’s Revenue Authority (GRA) for review. Once the IA is in order it is executed by the Ministry of Finance.An Investment Agreement also lists the machinery, equipment and other items that are usually exempted from Custom duties. The listing of these items in finite detail is paramount to the issue of transparency and acts as a check and balance in the system to prevent abuse of Investment Agreements.It also provides the GRA with the ability to properly monitor and administer its functions as it relates to tax- and non-tax payers alike. Listing items eligible for exemptions allows the GRA to compute the value of exemptions granted for which it must account to the public for by publication.The GRA then reviews the draft Investment Agreement,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, using pre-existing customs, policy guidelines and the law,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, to determine the incentives applicable to a project. It sometimes proceeds to call the investor in to negotiate the terms of the Investment Agreement. Once GRA is satisfied with the Investment Agreement it is sent to the Minister of Finance with a recommendation for signature.Below are some of the general and special concession packages and what they offer.General Incentives* Exemption from Customs Duty on most plant machinery and equipment* Exemption from Customs Duty on raw materials and packaging materials used in the production of goods by manufacturers* Exemption from Customs Duty and zero rate of Value-Added-Tax on raw materials and packaging for manufacturers who export 50 percent or more of their products* Unlimited carryover of losses from previous years* Accelerated depreciation on plant and machinery for approved activities* Full and unrestricted repatriation of capital, profits and dividends* Benefits of double taxation treaties with the United Kingdom , Canada, Kuwait and Caricom countries* Exemption from Customs Duty and zero rate of Value-Added-Tax on items approved under an Investment Agreement between the Government and the business* Exemption from Excise Tax on items approved under an Investment Agreement between the Government and the business* Zero rate of Value-Added-Tax on exportsTax holidays for projects that meet the requirements specified in the In-Aid of Industry ActSpecial Incentives (provided in addition to general incentives)Government provides export allowances for non-traditional exports to markets outside Caricom. ?The actual amount deducted depends on the proportion of export sales to total sales. ?It does not include rice, lumber, timber, shrimp, rum, sugar, diamond, gold, bauxite, molasses, petroleum.% of export sales to total sales10% or more –less than 21%Greater than 21% – less than 31%Greater than 31% – less than 41%Greater than 41% – less than 51%Greater than 51% – less than 61%Greater than 61%?? ?% of export profit deductible from income tax25%35%45%55%65%75%Sector Incentives (provided in addition to general incentives):Agri-business* Exemption from Customs Duty on a wide range of machinery and equipment for land preparation, cultivation, harvesting – tractors, combines, bulldozers, excavators, etc.* Exemption from Customs Duty on a wide range of agro-processing