KATHMANDU: The Department of Customs is expanding an online payment system to 24 customs offices across the country from Wednesday.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma is to inaugurate the expansion of online customs revenue payment at the Tribhuvan Airport Customs Office on Wednesday.

The digital collection of customs duty, value-added tax, excise and other taxes at various customs points in the country has been possible, thanks to a pilot project run in Birgunj dryport.

Director and Information Officer of the Customs Department Punya Bikram Khadka said a pilot project for online payment of taxes and duties tested at the Dryport Customs Office in Birgunj since December 16 became successful, establishing a working online payment system.

With this, the door for cashless transactions at customs points is viable.

“Traders can now pay for all types of goods brought to the customs points from the convenience of their home,” Khadka said. “It will also speed up the work of customs and save time for service seekers.” He added hassles related to making payment at customs using cash would also end.

Last fiscal, the Customs Department had collected a revenue of Rs 420.97 billion from imports alone. The revenue from imports has averaged Rs. 2,576 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.

The department said all types of revenue collection would now be online.

According to the department, the online payment system was integrated in coordination of Nepal Clearing House Limited. Users will be able to make payments through Nepal Clearing House’s Connect IPS, mobile app, corporate pay, NCHL bank center and affiliated digital wallets.