Tax week begins Thursday

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 18: A week-long National Tax Day-2022 has begun across the country since Thursday.

According to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), it is going to observe the Tax Day by organising various programmes for a week.

On the occasion of the National Tax Day, every taxpayer's office is going to honour the first taxpayer, hold various discussions and interactions with umbrella organisations of the taxpayers, including industrialists, said director general of IRD Ritesh Kumar Shakya.

The theme of this year's National Tax Day is ‘A Broader Tax Base with Voluntary Participation: Foundation of Sustainable and Productive Economy’.

Shakya said that it was necessary to make the tax system transparent, technology-friendly and based on voluntary participation.

In his message issued on the occasion of the National Tax Day on Thursday, Shakya said that a strong tax system was essential to raise sufficient internal investment while reducing dependency on foreign aid for development activities.

The department is committed to continuing the reform of tax system by internalising innovative policies and strategies, good practices and procedures adopted globally, he said.

“Work is being done to modernise and improve the tax system. We have changed the schedule of details to be submitted by the taxpayers. We expect that tax evasion will be reduced due to this,” Shakya said. He said the private sector umbrella organisations, business institutions and general taxpayers should be more active in realising their responsibility, including voluntary tax participation by making maximum use of the legal facilities and rights.

He said that the National Tax Day would encourage the government and non-government sectors, civil society and mass media to increase internal revenue mobilisation.

There are 84 tax offices under the Department, including  one large taxpayer office, one medium-level taxpayer office, 43 inland revenue offices and 39 taxpayer service offices.

According to the Department, by mid-July, the number of taxpayers with professional and personal permanent account numbers had reached 4.812 million.