PRESS RELEASE: New plastic drivers licence to be issued from March 20 – targeting first time licence applicants and renewals only Wednesday, March 19, 2014: Parliamentarians and some civil society groups will be among the first to receive the new plastic drivers licence beginning March 20, 2014. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will commence issuance of the new automated plastic drivers licence to members of the public for its pilot phase soon after. In this first phase drivers will be issued with a plastic card that replicates the information that is currently found on the existing paper licence such as one’s photo, name, address and Taxpayer identification number. In subsequent phases the GRA will seek to enhance the new plastic drivers licence with additional security and other sophisticated features to further reduce the likelihood of fraud and enable information sharing with relevant authorities. The new plastic licence will only be issued to persons whose licence have expired and therefore up for renewal or persons in need of a duplicate; and those applying for a new licence as a result of obtaining their Competence Certificate from the police or having a foreign drivers licence. This service will only be facilitated at the Authority’s Camp Street Headquarters and initially will only be available to persons who currently obtain their licence in Georgetown. Drivers in the regions will continue to use the paper (booklet) licence as provided by the certifying offices (police stations) in the regions until the automated plastic drivers licence system is decentralized. Additionally, provisional, hire car and conductor licence holders are also required to continue using the booklet-form licences. Currently, the cost for the new automated plastic drivers licence remains the same as the old. Persons applying for the plastic licence will be required to submit/ lodge the following documents and return after five working days so as to prevent congestion at the Headquarters and give the GRA ample time to verify highly sensitive data provided: i. the expired Drivers’ Licence; ii. One (1) passport-sized photographs; iii. Official identification (ID card or valid passport); iv. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); Additionally, applicants will be required to have their photograph taken. They will be issued with a five-day driver’s permit and lodgment slip upon completion of the application/ registration process. Upon their return, the applicant will make payment, affix their signature on the licence and sign as uplifting same. As currently obtains, the licence will remain valid for three years, but the GRA will be seeking to extend the life of the licence. The GRA will be notifying the public about the details concerning the roll out of the second phase of the automated plastic drivers’ licence. The new state-of- the-art plastic licence card was launched on Tuesday, March 11, simultaneously with the on-line tax payment system. The latter offers taxpayers the opportunity of making faster payments for various tax types from the comfort and convenience of their home or office. Among the tax types for which payment can be made are personal Income Tax, Property Tax, Corporation Tax and Value-Added Tax. The purchase of motor vehicle licence can also be done using the new payment system. Additionally these services are provided over-the-counter at any Bill Express location. -ENDS-
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:10:35 +0000
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