Timber movement permit fees rise to Sh25,570 in new govt structure

Timber movement permit fees rise to Sh25,570 in new govt structure

Under the new fee structure, the total cost for a timber movement permit costs Sh25,570, a major adjustment from the previous amount of Sh2,000.

The Kenya Forest Services (KFS) has announced a substantial increase in timber movement permit fees, effective July 13, 2024.

A memo dated July 10, 2024, and signed by Eco-System Conservator K. R. Ombati at the Malaba One Stop Border Post (OSBP) indicated the significant rise in the cost of transporting timber.

Under the new fee structure, the total cost for a timber movement permit costs Sh25,570, a major adjustment from the previous amount of Sh2,000.

The revised fees include various charges, such as consignment fees of Sh20,000 with a 16 per cent VAT of Sh3,200, a movement permit fee of Sh2,000 with a 16 per cent VAT of Sh320, and an e-Citizen Transaction Tax (e-Citizen TT) of Sh50.

Ombati emphasised that all payments must be processed exclusively through the e-Citizen platform.

"All payments are made only through the e-Citizen platform with the Tax Invoice Management System (TIMS) machine we have in the office," he said.

KFS has also updated other fees for other forest products, such as charcoal movement permits.

For charcoal, the per-bag fee has been set at Sh30, plus 15 per cent VAT and e-Citizen fees per transaction at Sh50.

Additionally, nontransaction-wood forest products will also be charged at Sh2 per kilogramme, with an additional 16 per cent VAT and Sh50 transaction fees.

All payments for these permits and products must be made through the e-Citizen platform using the TIMS machine available in the office, according to the new regulations.

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