NUG Will Enforce Tax Scheme In Kalay Township In June
By Network Media Group
Wednesday May 31, 2023
The exiled National Unity Government (NUG) has vowed to take action in June against companies that don’t pay taxes through the Kalay Township People’s Police (KTPP), which is in charge of judicial matters in the township in Sagaing Township.
NUG said the KTPP has promised protection to businesses and individuals who pay into the system, but those who don’t will face consequences.
“We’ll confiscate goods from shops or vehicles if they don’t pay taxes on their merchandise,” an officer from the KTPP’s information department told NMG. “The tax system has just started in Kalay Township and 5 to 6 businessmen have already paid. To be fully functional, everyone has to participate in the process.”
Businesses were allowed to pay their taxes from 26 May to 4 June.
According to the KTPP, the tax revenue will be used for the security, defence and administration of the People’s Defence Force (PDF), which controls about 80 percent of Kalay Township, the People’s Administration and NUG in Kalay Township. The officer said they’ll not publicly disclose who pays the taxes out of concern for their safety.
“The taxes that are levied depend on their business,” he explained. A licence from the NUG is
required to mine mineral resources such as coal and petroleum, for example. If they already have a licence from NUG, they’ll collect 25,000 kyat ($12) per tonne of coal, the officer said.
However, if the companies’ former licence under the previous National League for Democracy’s government has already expired and they have a new agreement with the regime, they’ll have to pay the KTPP 95,000 kyat per tonne of coal. And they have to pay a penalty of 50,000 kyat if they exceed the amount they’re allowed to mine according to the contract.
Products manufactured by the Military Council, which are part of a nationwide boycott, will be confiscated and handed over to officials with the People’s Administration.
At a press conference in November, U Tin Tun Naing, the NUG’s Minister of Planning, Finance and Investment, promised that after the revolution, they’ll continue to work with companies that regularly pay their taxes to rebuild the country.
