Parliament green-light for 'mistake' Green Tax ban reversal
In Wednesday's sitting, 50 members voted in favour of the committee's decision.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Parliament on Wednesday gave green light to a proposal by the government to amend the Tourism Act to end the current erroneous suspension of Green Tax.
Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) was made aware in August that due to an error in the Green Tax commencement date during the drafting of a July amendment, Green Tax cannot be levied this year.
The government has since proposed amendments to the Tourism Act to resolve the issue. The latest amendments allow the state to collect Green Tax if it was collected even after the July amendment.
Parliament's committee of whole house had on 12 September gave green light to the government's proposal.
In Wednesday's sitting, 50 members voted in favour of the committee's decision.
Meanwhile, MIRA has collected MVR 73.1 million as Green Tax in August while green taxing has been halted due to an error in the recently-enacted amendments to the Tourism Act.
Revenue statistics published by MIRA on Thursday show:
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In August, USD 4.7 million was received as Green Tax, which is MVR 73.1 million.
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Green tax contributed 5.5% of the total revenue generated last month.
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USD 44.5 million has been collected as Green Tax so far this year; MVR 681.1 million.
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MIRA collected MVR 61.5 million from Green Taxes in July after the amendments to the Act had been ratified.
Green Taxes are levied on:
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Resorts - USD 6 per tourist per night
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Hotels or guesthouses - USD 3 per night from each tourist
