Draft law on tax liabilities exemption sent to Parliament

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) has welcomed 95 percent exemption on tax liabilities at time when a draft law granting at least 50 percent exemption has already been dispatched to the Parliament.

Officials warned if companies did not clear their tax records in the coming nine months, their licenses would be revoked.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has earlier announced approving the new policy on tax liabilities in the 2018 budget.

ACCI deputy head Khan Jan Alokozai told reporters here that the tax liabilities exemption was applied on institutions and persons.

He added tax liabilities from 2002 to 2017 had been included in the new policy and taxpayers should clear their liabilities in the coming nine months and should pay five percent fine as well.

Alokozai welcomed the new government policy and said special booth should be created so that businessmen and companies could clear their liabilities in the allotted time.

He, however, said tax fines were very high. “For example if a company pays 100,000 tax, the fine soars to 200,000 or even 400,000 afghanis.” He demanded the government reduce fine on none payment of tax.

Abdul Habib Zadran, head of MoF Revenue Department, said the government introduced the policy of exemption on tax liabilities to promote the culture of tax payment and obedience.

He said low return of taxes and lack of awareness among the masses regarding tax payment caused a decline in the revenue.