According to Khabaronline News Agency, the government, in a decree issued on October 20, 2026, established the basis for calculating the customs value of imported goods at the Central Bank's announced exchange rate on the day of declaration—a decision that could have increased the customs costs and final prices of imported cars. However, pointing out the inflationary consequences of this decision, the president has ordered its revocation and a re-evaluation of the matter in the government's economic committee.

Exchange Rate of the Declaration Day Was the New Basis for Customs Calculations

Based on the text of the directive published on October 20, 2026, the government had stipulated that the calculation of the customs value of goods be carried out based on the exchange rate announced by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the day of declaration. The clause related to this decision stated: "The currency conversion rate for calculating the customs value subject to Article (14) of the Customs Affairs Law is the exchange rate announced by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the day of declaration."

The implementation of this decree could have affected the rial amount forming the basis of customs calculations for imported goods. If the exchange rate on the declaration day were higher than the previous base rate, the rial value of the goods for customs calculations would also increase, and this change could raise import costs.

President's Order to Revoke the Decree Citing Inflationary Effects

According to the published image of the directive, the president emphasized the necessity of revoking this decision in a handwritten note, citing inflationary effects and the probability of rising goods prices as the reason. In the same directive, re-evaluating the issue in the government's economic committee was also emphasized.

Thus, the decree regarding the change of the exchange rate basis for customs calculations has faced a revocation order; however, the details of the alternative decision and the outcome of the re-evaluation of the issue in the government's economic committee are not yet specified in the published image.

Impact of the Decree on Imported Car Prices

Changing the base exchange rate for calculating customs value could have affected the clearance cost of imported cars. With the increase in the rial value of cars in customs calculations, amounts calculated based on the customs value might also have increased and ultimately impacted the final price of the car.

However, the extent of this change's impact on the final car prices depends on the exchange rate used, the method of calculating entry duties, and other import costs. Therefore, the revocation of the decree can be considered the removal of a potential import cost-increase factor, rather than a guarantee for lowering imported car prices.

Bank Guarantee Clause for Taxes and Duties

In addition to changing the exchange rate conversion basis, the directive in question also featured a clause regarding the possibility of using a bank guarantee instead of cash payment for collecting value-added tax and goods duties. However, the main focus of the president's handwritten order was stated to be the inflationary consequences of changing the exchange rate in customs calculations.

Currently, the details of how customs value calculations will proceed following the revocation of this decree and the fate of the directive's other provisions are unclear. The ultimate impact of this decision on import costs and car prices will also depend on the regulations that will be announced after the government's re-evaluation.

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Source: Khabaronline