Won't be easy for those who don't pay tax -- will definitely get caught to tax net

Won't be easy for those who don't pay tax -- will definitely get caught to tax net

Deputy Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue Department Mr. A. Nandun Guruge says that a network with 30 ultra-special institutions in connection with those evading payment of tax is in progress and in future all companies, assets of institutions and individuals, income and those who are liable to identify transactions and open tax

files on behalf of those expected to pay tax will come into force. He expressed about this at a special discussion with him yesterday (23) at the Inland Revenue Department. He said that in order to identify tax-payers the transactions carried out in the relevant institutions would be co-ordinated across this new network in a manner that individuals, institutions and companies are co-ordinated.

He further added that a structural file prepared about every citizen over 18 years of age would be linked to this network and that preparations of activities would be brought to a close in forthcoming December. As such, an identity number would be allotted to every citizen who is over 18 years of age by year 2018 and assets etcetera of all individuals would be included in this network, he added.

It will be possible across this methodology to detect income-earners who default tax payments and thus trap them, he said. Several  new methodologies have been launched already to prey on those who evade taxes and this is just one such methodology, he mentioned. He also said that the primary objective of of the government is to increase charging direct taxes from among all tax-payers and to decrease indirect taxes, thus providing a concession to the common man in this country through this process and thereby corner tax-defaulters.

What he requests from persons who are liable for tax payment is to open up a file and if not, assets and particulars regarding income of tax-defaulters detected across the network would be traced backwards to the past and may be subjected to payment of the maximum fine, the Deputy Commissioner General finally mentioned.

-- Harshani Arsekularatna