Kathmandu. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has directed tax administrators to collect tax at the convenience of taxpayers.
The Finance Minister gave this directive while addressing the tax officers under the department of the Inland Revenue Department across the country on Thursday. “Collect taxes by pleasing them, not by suppressing them,” he said, adding, “Let me hear in the market that there has been a big improvement in tax administration, there is no burden to pay taxes, no one is afraid.” ’
Wagle directed the tax administrators to include taxpayers in the tax net through voluntary compliance and not by forcing them to collect taxes. “I don’t want to hear that taxpayers are frightened and have not come under the tax net. No one should be in a situation where they are hiding from paying tax,” he said.
Wagle also urged the tax administration to be assured if there is a lack of human resources, infrastructure or information technology to make the tax administration efficient. He also made it clear that no stone will be left unturned to encourage those who do excellent work in tax administration and benefit the state. “Taxpayers should be happy. The tax collector should be facilitated. The revenue target had to be met. The target of inland revenue share in Mission 16 trillion should be met,” he said.
Urging to understand that this year’s budget has turned the ship of economy, Wagle said that the budget for the next 4 fiscal years would show the basis of the economy that the government wants to build. He directed the departmental leadership to implement the discount scheme given in the budget, make the taxpayer incentive program successful, increase taxpayer awareness and make the transactions digital.
Stating that the Ministry has been making efforts to remove the country from the ‘grey list’, Wagle urged the tax administration to look into the crime related to money laundering in a smooth manner. Stating that the career development of tax administrators would be given priority on the basis of their working style and support to the state, he urged the employees not to use a source force for transfers.
