Tax files for everyone impractical to be done- Champika Ranawaka

9 February 2024 11:55 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 29 Bookmark

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Colombo, Feb 09 (Daily Mirror) - MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, leader of the United Republic Front underscores the impracticality of preparing tax files for every citizen of Sri Lanka.

He highlights the considerable time and manpower required, indicating that it takes approximately half an hour to process a single tax file while considering all requisite criteria.

With only nine officers tasked with this responsibility, the daily processing capacity is limited to 144 files, making the processing of millions of files a daunting and time-consuming endeavour.

He contends that prioritising the collection of unpaid taxes from the 1272 defaulters identified by the Inland Revenue Department should take precedence over opening new tax files for every individual. However, he criticises the lack of action taken by the current government in this regard, resulting in an undue burden on the populace and the adoption of impractical measures.

Comments - 29

Indrajith Saturday, 10 February 2024 12:42 AM

Take a can do approach. Other countries do it. Why can't we?

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Tax Everyone For Long Term Gains Saturday, 10 February 2024 01:05 AM

Starting hiring from each cohort of university graduates to chase after these tax defaulters. The extra money collected will cover their salaries

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VRAJ Saturday, 10 February 2024 01:09 AM

IF PEOPLE WANT TO, DO TAX FILES, BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT OF SL AND EMPLOYERS MUST SEND T . FROM EVERY INCOM EARNERS.

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Tissa Fernando Saturday, 10 February 2024 01:33 AM

Digitalisation and self reporting mechanism with random audits will be the way forward. He is outlining a problem without a solution. Everyone should start paying taxes. You should provide a solution for that but not yo avoid taxes by some peoole.

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Kandiah Balendran Saturday, 10 February 2024 02:17 AM

More than half the population are either unemployed, disabled, elderly or students. What madness.

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DPerera Saturday, 10 February 2024 12:58 PM

One person may be unemployed or student this month but next month he he could be a salary earner. Also there could be millions of Rupees deposited in the name of some school children who could be earning interest incomes. That's why everyone in the country must have a TIN so that government can catch the tax dodgers.

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Ama Saturday, 10 February 2024 02:17 AM

Shut up. How other countries are maintaining? We have to implemented this process little by little. You are NOT a suitable person to become as PRESIDENT.

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Mahila Saturday, 10 February 2024 03:34 PM

ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN DEVELOPED WORLD CANNOT GET EMPLOYED WITHOUT A TAX FILE NUMBER (TFN)!!!??? That's the way!! No TFN or TIN, none will employ you, because if they do and Income Tax Dept., finds out both employer and employee are FINED!? Tax Evasion is JAIL!!!??? HOW CAN YOU DO THAT "LITTLE BY LITTLE"!!??? His CHILDREN WOULD STARVE!!!??? Tom Foolery!!??

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Kumara Choksanada Saturday, 10 February 2024 02:18 AM

Road sweepers and labourers need tax files for what ?

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vithura Saturday, 10 February 2024 04:25 PM

Tax files are needed to identify those who are below a defined income threshold for the provision of means tested benefits.

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Tissa Fernando Saturday, 10 February 2024 09:52 PM

Yes, if they earn more than Rs 100000 a month. Tax is not paid on what you do but on what you earn. So your statement is coming from your discriminating mentality towards people doing certain jobs. These jobs are also required to clean up the garbage you guys throw on the road side or someone else's unused land.

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Chris Xavir Saturday, 10 February 2024 03:08 AM

Very sensible comment.

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Don Saturday, 10 February 2024 03:40 AM

It is unfortunate majority Sri Lankans are unintelligent to understand the worth of Champika as the leader of Sri Lanka. He may not be perfect but compared to all available contenders, he is miles above with analytical knowledge, understanding of world, regional and local history, economic process knowledge, governance knowledge and scientific knowledge. If Sri Lankans want to develop their country next 10 years, vote him as the president. If you need short gains and live in a fantasy world and ruin your next generation lives, appoint one of other typical conman. Choice is yours. After taking wrong decision, don’t complain later.

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Mahila Saturday, 10 February 2024 04:18 AM

Defaulters - 10 to 12 years - may not be living, not earning income or Bankrupt during this time! Your pursuing them is DEAD DUCK!? Digitalise the department ASAP and ensure every citizen above 17 Years as of now is entered and are on RECORD!! This may be Laborious but provide ample dividends in a Year or Two latest 2026!!?? That's what all advanced countries do and don't feel shy to follow them, it is a good system!!! If you need manpower get "Casual Data Entry" staff to capture the Information!!! Or, else OUTSOURCE it!!! Once that is done, every individual above 18 years - working age - is MANDATED to PROVIDE their own “ANNUAL RETURN DECLARATION”, legally binding! Inland Revenue (IRD) checked, verified by IRD Assessors – Taxes assessed, less DEDUCTIONS, PAID!?

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Rolo Saturday, 10 February 2024 05:34 AM

What is possible to you Sri lankans ???????????

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Tissa Saturday, 10 February 2024 06:32 AM

Interesting statement. On whose side is he. Is he on the payroll of income tax bludgers? Everyone old enough to vote must have a tax file no. and also file an income tax return. We cannot have loopholes. Anyone who argues to create loopholes needs to be viewed with much suspicion.

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SL citizen Saturday, 10 February 2024 07:23 AM

If other countries can do it, we can too. Some day or another we have to get to a point where each citizen has a tax file, so better start now.

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Gabriella Saturday, 10 February 2024 07:53 AM

Another genius ! Let’s stop all the projects that are time consuming. The major concern is that this mutt is considered one of the “educated” in politics.

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Gabriella Saturday, 10 February 2024 07:53 AM

Another genius ! Let’s stop all the projects that are time consuming. The major concern is that this mutt is considered one of the “educated” in politics.

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Jayantha Saturday, 10 February 2024 07:57 AM

With these foolish tax policies,high cost of living and also high electricity tarrifs more and more people will consider leaving the country. If you check the prices of goods in most of the developed countries, it is similar to prices here now. So why spend the life here with an unstable economy when better opportunity exists elsewhere. Even more and more companies will leave as production cost is too high here.

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Flogging the dead horse Saturday, 10 February 2024 08:22 AM

Monthly salaried workers are cornered for tax, while self employed, and businessmen go scot free, even though their income is high. As for Tax defaulters, they escape from every Govt. because they have the pull at every political level!

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Ram Saturday, 10 February 2024 08:47 AM

Bring in laws to make it compulsory for parties to any contract/transaction over One Million to report the parties names addresses together with NICs to the transaction to IRD. Reporting to be done by all parties and any lawyer / Broker involved. Impose heavy fines for failure to report. IRD can follow them up as required

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Adwani Saturday, 10 February 2024 09:45 AM

Another crook from the pothole hissing, we already are aware of the impracticals and unreliabilities.

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Steve Saturday, 10 February 2024 09:46 AM

Go after the big guys and you will collect more taxes than chasing after the small fish. A tax file should be linked to a persons NIC similar to in Singapore for easy management.

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Citizen k Saturday, 10 February 2024 10:30 AM

Every time some one is employed on permanent basis a tax file should be open.Part timers any how pay indirect taxes.What is the purpose in opening a tax file for a daily wage earner in the manual capacity?

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He is right Saturday, 10 February 2024 11:05 AM

2 years or more is needed to complete the registration. That's what he is saying.

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Gabriella Saturday, 10 February 2024 11:36 AM

Then in two years the work will be completed ! It will only require updates from that point. A tax file number serves many purposes, it allows the IRD to query why a person with no visible means of support lives in a mansion and drives a Ferrari. Politicians exempted, because they always have the Nations best interests at heart.

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Gamini Saturday, 10 February 2024 11:28 AM

If it is difficult to open tax files for all citizens, open it at least for all politicians. That is where the big default money is

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How Stupid is His Proposal Saturday, 10 February 2024 04:41 PM

Typical politician wanting free lunches! End of the day, this will lead to those on the tax department’s list to pay more. The others getting a free ride.

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