Pay taxes and avail benefits offered - Commissioner General

by Surekha Galagoda

"Revenue targets set by the Inland Revenue Department have been achieved until now" said Commissioner General Inland Revenue K.M.S. Kandegedara.

The tax revenue collected is spent on education, health as well as on infrastructure projects, therefore paying taxes will ensure that the services continue uninterrupted, he said.

He said that if a person is finding it difficult to fill the tax returns he can always get help from the taxpayer service unit where officers will help fill in the returns as well as offer consultation free of charge.

Kandegedara said that if the income is less than Rs one m he can open a tax file and no questions will be asked as only a declaration is needed.

He hopes that the government will simplify the tax system in the budget to be presented tomorrow and requests all citizens with an annual income of Rs. 300,000 or more to pay taxes.

He said that there are many benefits offered to taxpayers which include the issue of privilege cards, granting tax concessions for importing of vehicles, discounts on early tax payments, special treatment at the airport as well as facilities from the State banks, People's Bank and Bank of Ceylon.

He said the selection for awarding the privilege cards which include gold or silver are for individual citizens with an income tax liability exceeding Rs 500,000, the payment of total income tax liabilities on or before the due dates, and the submission of returns on time.

The benefits offered to gold card holders include special channel when arriving at the BIA, Use of the executive lounge on the departure and arrival terminal free of charge, a people's visa gold credit card worth Rs 500,000,issue of travellers cheques free of commission, a seven percent discount on the purchase of air ticket from People's Travel, special rates for all rupee and foreign currency fixed deposits and call deposits, housing loans processed and disbursed within two weeks, delivery of cash, safe deposit lockers at 50 percent discount as well as direct access to managers assuring no waiting are the benefits offered by People's Bank

BOC offers RS one m credit card, credit facilities at preferential rates, leasing facilities, housing loans, Ceybank Rests at half rate, business centre available for conferences.

The two banks offer a host of facilities to silver card holders as well.