The total amount of tax arrears, penalties, and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department by December 31, 2022, is 904 billion rupees, as the Committee on Public Finance disclosed today.
It was revealed at COPA that the total arrears of taxes, penalties, and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department by December 31, 2022, in relation to RAMIS and legacy systems are Rs. 904,342,180,778 (904 billion).
It was disclosed that an amount of Rs. 163,425,093,401 (163 billion) has been identified as income that can be collected without any legal concern and that Rs. 740,917,087,377 (740 billion) has been identified as income that has been temporarily suspended due to certain reasons.(IR)
The Auditor General also pointed out that this amount has been identified as the total arrears of tax to be collected under both RAMIS and Legacy systems, and there was a discussion at length about not collecting the revenue due that could be collected off these tax arrears.
The Chair of this Committee, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, recommended that a report be given to COPA with dates containing information on how to collect the tax arrears identified as chargeable income, which can be collected the least in installments. The Chair also recommended that a separate report be given on the total outstanding tax amount of 904 billion rupees, and the report should state in detail how taxes have been evaded and the reasons for such evasion.
