By The Star Staff
The Treasury Secretary Francisco Parés Alicea, announced on Wednesday the simplification of the process of requesting reimbursement of taxes related to the purchase of gas oil and diesel oil, for the operation of machinery and vehicles used in agricultural activities.
“We continue to review the processes in the Treasury Department and integrate more technology, so that the different sectors can benefit from the incentives available and make their arrangements quickly and easily. In this case, we had a direct request from farmers who asked us to review the excise reimbursement process to make it more accessible and it is already available,” Parés Alicea said in written statements.
The Treasury Department established a procedure through SURI, so that Bonafide farmers can request the reimbursement of the excise duty of :”gas oil” or “diesel oil,” acquired for exclusive use in the operation of agricultural, livestock and poultry machinery and vehicles. It also includes the breeding of native thoroughbred horses or Paso Fino horses, pure Puerto Rico, and the operation of machinery or vehicles of producers, processors, pasteurizers or sterilizers of milk or its derived products, as well as other equipment used in other agro-industrial or agricultural operations.
To submit the reimbursement request, the bona fide farmer must have an active farmer ID with the Department.
It will be reimbursed at the rate of 0.04 cents for each gallon or fraction thereof, as provided in Section 3020.06 of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011, as amended. In addition, the reduction tax will be reimbursed, at the rate of $15.50 for each barrel or fraction of “gas oil” or “diesel oil.”