July 17: Car buyers who ordered their cars before the tax revision on imported vehicles was announced heaved a sigh of relief when the Finance Ministry said they will not have to pay the revised taxes.

But, those who ordered their cars from Durga Automotive Private Limited in Jaigoan, India said they have been left out. They were made to pay taxes though they placed the orders before the revision was announced.

They said they placed the orders before the tax revision on the imported vehicles was announced. But they were made to pay the revised taxes saying that they ordered cars from an Indian car dealer and not from car dealers in Bhutan.

“I think it is not fair to charge us the revised taxes just because we are buying cars from an Indian car dealer. Whether we order from Bhutanese car dealer or Indian dealer, it is the importers who pay the tax. And all importers are Bhutanese,” said one of the car buyers, Damcho.

“I ordered way before the tax revision came into place. So I was under the impression that we are exempted from the revised tax. But today when I came to get my car, I have been asked to pay.” said Sonam, another buyer.

The Regional Director of the Revenue and Customs office in Phuentsholing said the directive from the Finance Ministry doesn’t specify if the vehicles ordered from the car dealers in Jaigoan are to be exempted from the revised tax. The Regional Director said the matter is a policy issue and they do not have any say over it. Therefore, he said such cases are being forwarded to headquarter.

Nineteen Bhutanese claim they ordered cars from Durga Automotive Private Limited prior to the tax revision announcement that was made on June 17.