Govt. urged to crack down on tax evaders instead of taxpayers, says MP Harsha de Silva

SJB MP and Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, Harsha de Silva, on Thursday (02), urged the government to take action against tax evaders instead of harassing law-abiding taxpayers.

According to MP Harsha de Silva, the government expected to collect Rs. 718 billion as corporate and personal income taxes for 2023, but as of October 16, 2023, the actual collection had reached only Rs. 495 billion. However, in a surprising contrast, PAYE taxes, which were projected to yield 100 billion rupees, had already exceeded expectations, bringing in 119 billion rupees. Therefore, he proposed to amend the current PAYE tax structure, as the government would go on to collect 125 billion rupees at the current compliance level and 175 billion rupees at a 100% compliance rate.

Furthermore, withholding tax collections exceeded expectations, he said. The government had anticipated 90 billion rupees but collected almost 122 billion rupees, showcasing that forcibly enforced taxes are being collected, while voluntary compliance remains substantially low.

MP Harsha also highlighted significant shortfalls in other tax categories. The Betting and Gaming levy, expected to generate 10 billion rupees, only managed 5.6 billion rupees. Similarly, Value Added Taxes (VAT) were projected to contribute 553 billion rupees, but collections stand at 350 billion rupees, with concerns raised about the upcoming VAT changes.

“This discrepancy in tax collection calls into question the government’s approach to fiscal-based revenue consolidation. It prompts concerns about the fairness of increasing taxes on honest taxpayers while allowing a significant portion of potential revenue to go uncollected from tax evaders. Moreover, the inconsistency in tax policies, with the same individuals who reduced taxes to 8% in 2019 now responsible for an 18% increase, further deepens public skepticism about the government’s policy direction,” he said.

MP Harsha de Silva also cited an example from the Excise Department, where the government had aimed to collect 217 billion rupees, inclusive of liquor tax, tobacco tax, sticker tax etc. However, the actual collection stands at just 124 billion rupees, creating a substantial 92 billion rupees shortfall.

“My comments serve as a wake-up call for the government to address the issue of tax evasion and to rethink its approach to tax collection. Prioritizing the collection of taxes from tax evaders rather than increasing the burden on law-abiding citizens is crucial for a fair and equitable tax system. The public is now looking to the government to take action to rectify the situation and ensure a more balanced and just tax system for all,” he said.