Kathmandu. The government has been forced to announce the withdrawal of the education and health care tax that was unexpectedly increased on the public after pressure from all sides.
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, on behalf of the government, had repeatedly argued that it was mandatory to impose tax on the capable class for equitable service. However, the government has been forced to withdraw its decision to increase the tax after the government was criticized from all sides for increasing the tax on the service of the hearse truck.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of such tax through a personal ‘Facebook’ instead of any official means of the government. He did not seem to want to accept the institutional existence of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Nor has he used a Facebook page with any institutional identity in the name of the prime minister.
Since this tax has been implemented on the basis of the Finance Bill presented by Finance Minister Wagle in the House of Representatives on May 29, this tax will not be removed permanently just after the announcement made by the government. Even if the government uses executive powers to temporarily suspend the decision related to additional tax, it must be approved by a majority in the House of Representatives and certified by the President for permanent legal recognition.
In order to withdraw the tax, the government has to file an amendment proposal in the House of Representatives with the reasons for the withdrawal of the tax. Such a proposal should be tabled in the National Assembly after discussion by the House of Representatives. The bill can be endorsed by the House of Representatives whether or not the National Assembly sends it back to the House of Representatives within 15 days. After the endorsement of the bill by the House of Representatives, the Speaker will have to submit it to the Office of the President for authentication. After the certification by the Office of the President, it has to be published in the Nepal Gazette. The tax will be refunded permanently only from the date of publication or from the date fixed by the House of Representatives.
