Tax collection must be streamlined with fair policies – SJB

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickremaratne said the country’s income can be increased if fraud and corruption can be reduced.

The MP said that one person needs 16,000 rupees per month to live and the government lost revenue because the previous government cut taxes without any scientific basis yesterday (19).

The MP said this while joining the debate on orders under the Finance Act.

The MP also said that he would like to ask the question whether the people of the country are living happily. It is said that electricity, fuel, water and inflation bills have reduced. If so, will people go to banks and deposit money in their hands? It was said that the government’s income was increased through taxes. 1.4 lakhs paid taxes in 2019. Today less than 300,000 pay taxes.11 lakhs paid income tax. 41,636 are paying as of today. Taxes should be taken and income should be increased. The problem of fairness of taxes arises.

“Although the government gets income from taxes, the previous government decided to cut it without any scientific basis. I tried to get data regarding tax revenue from the Excise, Customs and Inland Revenue Departments but it was not possible. In 2000, personal income was 0.9 percent of the gross domestic product. By 2022 it will be 0.2. It is 0.9 in Bangladesh. Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand between 1 and 2. The Philippines is 2.4. Korea is 5.7. We are insolvent by not being able to collect taxes,” MP Wickremaratne said.

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