17 May 2023 09:37 am Views - 108
By Ajith Siriwardana
It was revealed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) that the total arrears of taxes, penalties and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department by December 31, 2022 in relation to RAMIS and Legacy systems is Rs. 904 billion.
It was disclosed that an amount of Rs. 163 billion has been identified as income that can be collected without any legal concern and that Rs. 740 billion has been identified as income that has been temporarily suspended due to certain reasons.
The Auditor General also pointed out that this amount has been identified as the total arrears of tax to be collected under both RAMIS and Legacy systems and there was a discussion at length about not collecting the revenue due that could be collected off this tax arrears.
COPA Chairman State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, recommended that a report be given to COPA with dates containing information on how to collect the tax arrears identified as chargeable income which can be collected at least in installments.
The Chairman also recommended that a separate report should be given on the total outstanding tax amount of 904 billion rupees and the report should state in detail how taxes have been evaded and the reasons for such.
This was disclosed when the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) met recently under the Chairmanship of State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna for the reviewing of the current performance and progress of the Inland Revenue Department which was summoned before COPA on 28th November 2022.