Tax man unveils compliance plan

THE Fiji Revenue and Customs Service has unveiled a Compliance Improvement Plan (CIP) 2023-2025 that includes going after tax evaders using the full force of the law.

Under the plan, Fijian taxpayers have been divided into four categories including voluntary compliant taxpayers, unfamiliar taxpayers, negligent taxpayers and tax evaders.

“The main objective of the CIP is to encourage voluntary compliance where our customers honestly register their business, file returns, pay taxes on time and accurately report all tax information to FRCS,” stated the FRCS.

“FRCS believes majority of our customers are tax compliant. There are a number of customers in rural and remote areas who need guidance from our office to become tax compliant. There are also a minority of customers who intentionally try to evade or avoid tax.”

FRCA says voluntary compliant taxpayers are those who willing to do the right thing and those who voluntarily comply with their tax obligations.

Unfamiliar taxpayers are those who wish to adhere to, but do not always succeed and customers that need help to comply with their tax obligations.

FRCS says negligent taxpayers are those who do not want to fulfil their tax obligations and includes customers where the appropriate measures are applied such as inspection control and enforced collection.

“We will conduct specific audit checks and apply penalties for negligent behaviour.”

According to the FRCS, tax evaders were determined not to comply with their tax obligations and that this group included taxpayers where there was criminal liability, which was hard to fight.

“The tax administration will use the full force of the law against them to file criminal charges in co-operation with other relevant state institutions.”

“Customers in this category will be treated with full in-depth audits, maximum penalties and prosecution.”