Our Bonded Warehouse Facility
Our Bonded Warehouse Facility: A Strategic Advantage for Your Business in Zambia
At StackPoint Solutions Limited, we offer more than just storage; we provide strategic solutions that enhance your financial flexibility and operational efficiency. Our state-of-the-art, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) licensed bonded warehouse facility is a prime example of this commitment. It is a specialised, secure area where you can store imported goods without the immediate payment of customs duties and VAT.
This service is designed to give you maximum control over your inventory and cash flow, allowing you to navigate the complexities of importation and seasonal market demands with ease.
How Our Bonded Facility Works for You
The process is simple and designed for your convenience:
Secure Storage Upon Arrival
When your containerised cargo arrives in Zambia, it can be transported directly to our bonded facility under customs seal. The entire shipment is securely stored without any immediate requirement to pay duties and VAT.
Partial Release on Your Schedule
You don’t need to clear the entire shipment at once. When you receive a sale order, you decide what portion of the cargo you need. Whether it’s a few tonnes, a specific number of boxes, or any other volume, we manage the partial release for you.
Pay as You Sell
Once you’ve identified the stock you wish to release, we facilitate the customs acquittal process for that specific portion only. The necessary duties and VAT are calculated on just the released goods and paid to the ZRA.
Seamless Release
After payment confirmation from the ZRA, the acquitted goods are released from the bond and are free to be delivered to your client. The remainder of your cargo stays securely in our bonded warehouse, deferring taxes until your next sale.
The Main Advantages of Using StackPoint's Bonded Warehouse in Zambia
This facility offers significant benefits, especially when compared to standard importation procedures. The key advantages for your business are:
Improved Cash Flow and Working Capital
This is the most significant benefit. By deferring the payment of duties and VAT until your goods are sold, your money is not tied up in taxes for stock that is sitting in a warehouse. This frees up your working capital, allowing you to invest in other critical areas of your business, such as marketing, expansion, or purchasing more stock.
Ideal for Seasonal or Unpredictable Sales
Many businesses in Zambia, particularly in sectors like agriculture or mining, face fluctuating or unpredictable demand. It is difficult to forecast sales for items like mining spare parts or seasonal farming inputs. Our bonded facility is the perfect solution. You can import in bulk to take advantage of better purchasing prices and then pay the duties and VAT only as the market demands the products, ensuring you are not carrying a heavy tax burden during slow months.
The Critical VAT Advantage: Overcoming the 90-Day Claim Limitation
A crucial and unique advantage in Zambia is how our bonded warehouse helps you manage your VAT claims. Under current ZRA regulations, businesses can only claim input VAT on imported goods within 90 days of importation.
- The Problem with Standard Warehousing: If you import a large quantity of goods and they do not sell within 90 days, you lose the ability to claim the input VAT you paid at the border. This is a direct loss to your business.
- The StackPoint Bonded Solution: By using our bonded facility, the “importation” for tax purposes only occurs when you release the goods from the bond. This means the 90-day clock for your VAT claim starts at the point of release, not when the goods first arrived in the country. This ensures that you can always claim your input VAT, protecting your bottom line and preventing unnecessary tax losses.