November 18: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said that the government is committed to make the taxation system and the tax administration systematic and accountable to the public.

Addressing a programme organized at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) on the occasion of the 10th Tax Day on Wednesday (November 17), Finance Minister Sharma said the government would not leave any stone unturned to address the grievances of the tax-payers.   

He expressed commitment to form a unit to promptly address the hassles and obstacles that surface in the tax administration.   

"The grievances of the tax-payers should be heard. A unit would be formed immediately. I will form a mechanism for prompt action," he said.   

The finance minister added that a vehicle scanner would be kept at each customs office for facilitating the customs process. He also asserted that the government would act tough to stop tax evasion and revenue leakage, and there would not be any discrimination against any tax-payer.   

He also directed the customs officials and government employees to consider themselves as the servants of the people.   

During the occasion, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini stressed on stability of tax policy to create investment-friendly environment in the country. He said that the government has adopted the policy of expanding the tax purview but not increasing the tax rate.   

Finance Secretary (Revenue) Krishna Hari Pushkar said the government has carried out policy and process related works with the objective of improving the tax administration and encouraging the tax payers to pay the tax voluntarily. He also pointed out to the need of reforms in the revenue administration.   

Director General of the Department Shovakanta Poudel claimed that the tax administration has become tax-payer friendly, investment-friendly and technology-friendly due to the reforms introduced on topics such as policy strengthening, procedural simplification, system reforms, tax education and awareness.   

Meanwhile, FNCCI president Shekhar Golchha said the industrialists and businessmen were ready to pay tax, and urged the government to create a dignified business environment. He suggested the government to make the tax administration prompt and efficient.    

Acting president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Krishna Prasad Adhikari stressed on the need of making the tax system transparent and drew the government's attention towards maintaining a pluralistic tax rate.   

Nepal Chamber of Commerce president Rajendra Malla suggested bringing the real estate businesspersons also into the tax net.   

The highest tax-payers and the department's employees were honoured on the occasion. The finance minister also unveiled the annual report and the revenue investigation procedures published by the department.  -- RSS