Nearly 14.6 bn afghanis collected in telecom tax so far

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MCIT) on Thursday signed Real Time Data Management System (RTDMS) system for collection of mobile phone users’ tax, the Presidential Palace said.

The Presidential Palace in a statement said nearly 14.6 billion afghanis had so far been collected in tax on mobile phone users since the tax collection went into effect three years ago.

The RTDMS system was signed between Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Shahzad Gul Aryubi and Joshua G. Bustos, in charge of BUSTOS Group.

President Ashraf Ghani was also present at the agreement signing ceremony the, the statement said.

RTDMS would ensure transparency and management in collection of the 10 percent tax from telecom users, it added.

The Presidential Palace said that 14.59 billion afghanis has so far been collected in mobile phone tax.

On October 14, 2015 the Wolesi Jirga or lower house suspended the 10 percent tax from mobile phone users until a transparent system for the tax collection was activated, but the Meshrano Jirga later approved it.

Later, a joint commission of both the houses approved the draft. But Telecommunications commission of the Wolesi Jirga rejected the draft again in 2017.

The tax collection law was approved on September 23, 2015.