Taxi drivers will have until the end of 2007 to get duty-free concessions on imported GPS equipment.

Finance Minister Paula Cox also backdated the measure to cover equipment bought from January 1, 2005.

The measure, announced in the House of Assembly yesterday, covers GPS equipment including associated communications equipment and parts and applies to individual taxi operators as well as taxi companies who will hand back rebates to the cabbies.

Government said retrospective rebates would take up to six weeks to process but from now on GPS equipment will go through customs duty free for approved importers.