Reveal VAT defaulters names: Commission

KATHMANDU:

National Information Commission has directed the Finance Ministry to reveal the names of VAT evaders.

Giving its final verdict to the complaint lodged by Freedom Forum, the commission said that Income Tax Act and VAT Act are attracted in the normal condition only. But the issue is not normal, since the Finance Ministry had formed an investigation committee and prepared the report because of the special nature of the incident,\" chief information commissioner at the commission Binay Kumar Kasajoo said.

The Inland Revenue Department under Finance Ministry had last year formed a special taskforce to prepare a report on fake VAT bill scam, he said, adding that the government has, but not publicised the report. The government should not hide the report since it hurts the government coffer and general public are also get deprived of their right to information, the decision said.

The commission has come into the conclusion that the government should publish the report along with its Annexes one, three and seven, he added.

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has by September 18, slapped Rs 3.12 billion fine on 292 firms out of 518 firms involved in VAT evasion by producing fake bills. It is all set to complete investigation of more firms soon, IRD director general Rajan Khanal said.

Source: THT