The government has withdrawn all import taxes on electric buses intended for transporting students of educational institutions, aiming to encourage the use of electric vehicles in the country. The Internal Resources Division of the Ministry of Finance issued the order on 28 April, according to a notification published on 30 April.
Officials of the National Board of Revenue said the total import tax on electric vehicles, including customs duty, VAT and other taxes, had been around 62%. Under the new facility, both public and private educational institutions will be eligible, including operators with contractual agreements to transport students. To qualify, the buses must be brand new, carry at least a seven-year or 300,000-kilometre warranty, have CCTV cameras, be registered with BRTA as student transport buses, and cannot be sold or transferred within five years of import.