COPA instructs IRD to recover Rs. 2.4 b in unpaid taxes

• IRD received 6,878 dishonoured checks worth Rs. 2.4 b by 31 Dec.
• Dept. also working to recover Rs. 2.6 b in tax arrears from casinos
• P’mentary committee told total tax arrears at Rs. 144 b 

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has received 6,878 dishonoured cheques worth Rs. 2.4 billion, as at 31 December, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) was informed during a meeting held in Parliament with instructions being given for officials to take immediate action to recover dues.

The Committee directed the Inland Revenue Department officials to take immediate action to recover the unpaid Rs. 2, 451,465,383.

It was also revealed at the meeting that court cases have been filed by Inland Revenue Department in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to recover Rs. 2,670 million in tax arrears from the casino 

business.

Meanwhile, COPA revealed that according to Section 12 of the Default Taxes (Special Provisions) Act No.16 of 2010, the amount of tax arrears that could be collected as on 31 December 2020 was around Rs. 144, 537,364,916.

The COPA meeting was chaired by Prof. Tissa Vitarana. It was attended by State Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, MPs Tissa Attanayake, S. Shreedaran, Carder Masthan, Mohamed Muzammil, Niroshan Perera, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, Weerasumana Weerasighe, and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Committee directed the Finance Ministry to expedite the preparation of a Common Methodology for the implementation of the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS) under the Inland Revenue Department in collaboration with all relevant stake holders.

Steps are being taken to include 29 institutions in the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS), IRD officials said. It was revealed at the committee meeting that six of these institutions have already joined RAMIS. It was also revealed that by 31 December this year, six more institutions will be included in this system.

The Committee also recommended that the Central Bank should provide the necessary guidelines for the inclusion of all banks in the country in the Revenue Administrative Management Information System.

Officials of the Ministry of Finance, Inland Revenue Department, National Audit Office, Treasury and other institutions included in RAMIS participated in this committee.