KATHMANDU, April 27: The Public Account Committee (PAC) under the Legislature-Parliament has, expressing its concerns over the government decision to give tax exemption in the name of Tax Settlement Commission, decided to probe the matter.
A meeting of the Committee held on Thursday instructed the Ministry of Finance, Revenue Department and officials of the then Tax Settlement Commission to provide to it all details relating to the tax concession decision and its implementation within the next two weeks, citing the decision was made as per the Tax Settlement Act- 2033 BS.
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The Parliamentary Committee reached to a conclusion that the decision was itself a misappropriation of the State coffer and was intended to giving advantages to a certain group of people, according to Committee President DR Upadhyay. "To give any sorts of tax exemption as per the old Act is a mockery of rule of law," the Committee concluded.
It is noted that the government had in 2071 BS formed a three-member Commission headed by Chartered Accountant Lumbdhwaj Mahat, following disputes seen in tax recovery.
The Commission decided to recover just Rs 9.546 billion out of Rs 30.525 billion left to be paid by 1,069 tax payers.
The Committee decided to further discuss on the subject.
In the meeting, lawmaker Dhanraj Gurung accused the government of giving a concession up to 99 per cent in tax in the name of its settlement. Lawmakers Bharat Kumar Saha, Rupa Maharjan, Bikash Lamsal, Rajendra KC, Rhishikesh Pokhrel and Hari Charan Saha, terming the decision to give a heavy discount on tax payment 'non-legal', demanded for an immediate recovery of slashed amount. RSS
