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Customs have confirmed that some rescue pets are subject to tax when being imported into Jersey after islanders raised concerns on social media that the extra cost might discourage people looking to adopt animals.
The policy was described as “disgusting”, “unfair”, and “heartless” by commenters who reacted to a post in which one islander expressed their surprise at having to pay £52 in Goods and Services Tax on a dog they were adopting from the UK – despite having already made a donation to the animal shelter.
Pictured: One islander wanting to adopt a dog from the UK said that they were shocked about the policy.
In response to queries from Express, customs officials clarified that whether GST is payable on imported rescue pets depends on several factors – including how the animal is imported, its value, and the circumstances of its arrival.
In simple terms, GST is generally charged on pets being brought into Jersey unless they meet specific exemptions.
These exemptions include cases where the pet is of low value or imported as part of a family’s relocation to the island.
For rescue pets that are donated, Customs may use the value of the donation, along with shipping and insurance costs, to determine if GST applies.
Customs also noted that if a pet is being imported free of charge, the importer must provide a suitable value for the pet, which could influence the GST charged.
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