Lower House speaker orders to report tax evasions

Lower House speaker orders to report tax evasions

Published on Sunday, 04 August 2013 20:56

Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann is seen after handing over Union Assembly Speaker duty (Photo/EMG)

Myanmar's Lower House speaker Thura Shwe Mann has ordered two parliamentary committees to produce a report on how to tackle tax evasions in the country.

"My suggestion is that Public Accounts Committee should make recommendations on how to ensure receipt of every tax, and, based on it, Finance and Revenue Development Committee adds their suggestions on regulating tax systems preventing leaks," said the Lower House speaker on August 1.

"Their report should be submitted to the parliament for discussion at the committee chairmen's meeting. It will give a viable solution to the problem. Therefore, the two parliament committees are required to submit a clear and concise report," Thura Shwe Mann said.

The topic was firstly raised in the parliamentary session by MP Tin Nwe Oo as she pointed out lack of proper tax reports from the border tax offices.

She said tax officials in border areas failed to make reports on the 1.5 percent pre-trading tax collected at their offices. This has drained millions of kyats from the country's revenue, and inquiries should be made regarding with the issue, she noted.

Deputy Minister for Revenue tried to counter MP Tin Nwe Oo, but his explanation focused on the other topic of tax evasions by business organizations.

Thura Shwe Mann said the deputy minister's explanation is not enough, and Public Accounts Committee and Finance and Revenue Development Committee need to seek a solution to the problem and make the report.

Myanmar has yielded better revenue from taxes in the recent year. During the first year the civilian government regulated tax, total revenue achieved was over 1500 billion kyats. In the following year, it reached over 2500 billion kyats_ a big leap due to the increased tax pay of the general public rather than the top businessmen also known as cronies.

Observers highlight that there are many rich persons in Myanmar who possess millions of dollar affluence, but their wealth and the taxes they paid are much different. It shows they are evading tax every year, the observers claim.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/05/lower-house-speaker-orders-to-report-tax-evasions/