It will take time to get the total T-GST- MIRA

 Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has said that it will take time to get the the total amount to be received as Tourism Goods and Services Tax (T-GST).

 Director of MIRA, Fathmath Rasheeda informed Miadhu Daily that the T-GST is a new form of tax introduced to the country to be taken from all tourist resorts, hotels, picnic islands, guest houses and tourist vessels and other facilities established therein for the supply of services to tourists and other service providers effective from 1^st of January. She said that it will take time to achieve the actual amount since the tax is totally new and the T-GST Act in the Constitution only mentions that the tax is liable to those tourist services provided after 1^st January.

“Most of the resorts sell their rooms prior to 2 months of the arrival of the tourists. So if the payment is taken before January, T-GST will not be charged,” Fathmath Rasheeda said.

 Director Fathmath Rasheeda said that MIRA collected 5.5 million US dollars as T-GST so far. However, she said that the total amount hoped to be collected as T-GST is 6.6 million US dollars.

 MIRA director informed Miadhu Daily that 1277 tourist businesses, run by 805 parties, have to pay T-GST.

 Fathmath Rasheeda said that 85% of tourist businesses have not yet paid. She said that MIRA office will be open on Saturday from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm for the convenience of those service providers. She added that on Sunday and Monday Mira will be open from 8.00am to 6.00pm.