Delay of over five months irks MPs

Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has consulted Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, as regards instructions received from the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka to furnish a list of those who had defaulted on their taxes amounting to over Rs 100 mn.

However, according to MP Ranawaka’s committee the IRD hadn’t provided a list though the request was made on July 24, 2023 and the issue was raised on two subsequent occasions.

The failure on the part of the IRD to comply with the request made by parliament has been raised again on Dec 06, sources said.

The Committee on Ways and Means has directed the IRD to submit the list by or before Dec 31, 2023.

Sources said that the committee expressed displeasure at the continuing failure on the part of the IRD to provide reports pertaining to requests made by the House committee, asking for additional time and non-implementation of those directives.

The committee has directed the Excise Department to cancel licenses of all liquor producers who failed to adhere with the plan meant to streamline payment of taxes by Dec 31.

Revenue collection authorities have been directed to collected what the committee termed as collectable taxes amounting to Rs 173 bn. (SF)