TIN number for all above 18 will help identify tax dodgers – Prof. Athukorale

Those who oppose the mandatory income tax registration for all citizens above 18 years are indirect supporters of tax evaders, Peradeniya University’s Economics and Statistics Department Senior Professor Wasantha Athukorale said.

He said that the decision taken by the Inland Revenue Department to open a tax file for every citizen above 18 and give a related number is a very important step and added having a tax number does not mean that everyone has to pay income tax.

Professor Athukorala stated that this will lead to the creation of an accurate data system regarding the citizens and this will provide the background to identify people who are not yet in the tax payment structures as well as those who are deliberately evading tax payments.

He said that every person who has completed 18 years in a country should have a tax number and the correct information about their income, expenses and assets should be published.

He emphasized that the Government will be able to create a tax schedule based on that.

He said that the people should not have unnecessary fear regarding this programme and this will provide the background to identify tax evaders and formally include them in the system as tax payers.

He also said that there is a situation where people are facing various difficulties in getting a tax number online and because of this, the interest of the people to get the registration may decrease. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the Revenue Department to simplify the methods of obtaining a tax number so that rural people who want to get a tax number can do so without difficulty.

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