Tancoo: Imbert’s Tax Amnesty Rewards Delinquency, Undermines Tax Integrity
The news today from the Ministry of Finance that Minister Imbert has extended the Tax Amnesty is an unfortunate confirmation that Minister Imbert continues to undermine the integrity of the taxation system. This latest action facilitates tax evaders, individuals and businesses that have failed to pay taxes on time.
This means the Minister is fully aware that there are still a substantial number of offenders who, despite the multiple amnesties and extensions already given, have refused to meet their obligations to the State. This extension of the amnesty sets the wrong precedent, that the Government is willing to turn a blind eye to law-breakers which is completely unacceptable. It is an open insult to civic minded persons and businesses who have diligently abided by the law and filed their tax returns and made their taxes payments on time.
Imbert’s priority should be on creating new and sustainable revenue streams. Instead, he continues to facilitate delinquent businesses in a desperate act to scrape up any change he can. I challenge the Minister to provide a list of these delinquent businesses who are effectively defrauding the tax-paying citizens of this country. Further, the Minister should advise the country of how much money is still outstanding/due, and why legal action has not been taken to pursue these law breakers.
It is unacceptable that tax-evaders continue to get a ‘bligh’ from this Government while average citizens are being threatened with legal action, fines and even seizure of their properties if they do not pay the PNM Property Tax.