Deadline extended on 95pc tax liability exemption

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Finance has extended until the end of the ongoing current fiscal year the deadline regarding a 95 percent exemption on tax liabilities and has warned defaulters of cancelling their licenses, freezing bank accounts and putting their names on Exist Control List (ECL.

Addressing reporters here, Abdullah Raqibi said the tax liabilities exemption period had been extended till the end of the currently fiscal year because the number of people who wanted to pay their tax liabilities was large.

He said the decision to extend the period was taken in the interest of private sector and its encouragement.

General Director of Revenue and Customs Abdul Habib Zadran said after the 95 percent exemption on tax liabilities announcement as many as 8,300 small and medium companies cleared their taxes and renewed their licenses.

He said five percent tax charge on tax liabilities accounted for eight billion afghanis but the libilitis exempted accounted for 20 billion afghanis.

He said 20,000 companies in three different categories existed in the country and according to MoF the estimate 12,000 to 15,000 companies referred to the ministry for clearing their taxes.

He asked individuals and companies to refer to the ministry for clearing their taxes during the extended period.

Khanjan Alokozai, deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) hailed extension in the period for tax returns and pledged full support to the process.

Rahimullah Samandar, head of the Mines and Trader Chamber, said 20 billion afghanis in tax liabilities was a huge amount and the decision demonstrated the government’s support for the private sector.

He hailed the government decision and added there were many companies and individuals who wanted to clear their taxes.

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