Disappointing revenue collection from Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu

Published On: February 5, 2023 05:00 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

JUMLA, Feb 5: According to the Inland Revenue Office, Jumla, the revenue collection of Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu is disappointing. Statistics show that only 34.65 percent revenue was collected in these three districts during the period of six and a half months.

According to Khesh Prasad Upadhyaya, tax officer of the Inland Revenue Office, Jumla, the revenue collection for six and a half months of the current fiscal year 2022/23 is disappointing.

“After Surkhet, the capital of Karnali province, Jumla is considered to be the biggest city. On the other hand, the revenue collection in 6 and a half months is disappointing in these three districts where small and medium industries, hotel business have flourished,” he said.

According to Upadhyay, the annual target of revenue collection was Rs 475.68 million and Rs 238.218 million revenue had to be collected in six months. But till January 30 of the current fiscal year, the total revenue collected from Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu districts is only Rs 164.818 million, he said, adding that of the target revenue Rs 73.34 million has not been collected.

It is said that the revenue collected was more than the target in six months last year. Tax Officer Upadhyaya said that the economy is not dynamic after COVID-19.

Last year i.e. in the fiscal year 2021/22, Rs 70 million more revenue than the target was collected. That is, Rs 329.898 million revenue was collected.

But in the six and a half months of the current year, when the total revenue of Rs 164.881 million was collected, the highest amount of revenue was collected from the income tax title of Rs 109.895 million. About Rs 165 million revenue has been collected from VAT Rs 43.088 million, excise duty Rs 49.048 million , restored tax Rs 47.0 24 million and interest tax Rs 21.06 million.

Although revenue collection is disappointing, the number of taxpayers seems to be increasing every year. According to the statistics of the office, there are a total of 30,284 voters in three districts.

Khesh Prasad Upadhyaya, tax officer and information officer of the Inland Revenue Office said that the highest number of taxpayers is 14,122 for income tax and the lowest is 217 for WPAN.

There are more than 30,000 voters, 13,975 for personal PAN, 572 for internal tax and 1,398 for VAT. Tax experts suggest that policies should be introduced to enable an entrepreneur-friendly economy in order to collect revenue as per the target.