MPs recommend introducing income tax
Amid fierce criticism during the 2017 budget debate of plans to hike import duties and impose new taxes and fees next year, several PPM MPs called on the government to introduce a personal income tax in the Maldives for the first time.
19 Nov 2016, 9:00 AM
The parliament’s budget committee on Thursday recommended introducing a personal income tax next year when it completed reviewing the MVR26.7 billion (US$1.7 billion) budget proposed for 2017.
A proposal by opposition MP Eva Abdulla to include the income tax among the budget recommendations was approved with the votes of two ruling coalition lawmakers. However, the government will not be legally obliged to implement any of the 10 recommendations, which also included managing cashflow to ensure the public will continue to social security benefits.
In a sign of growing support for an income tax within the ruling party, several pro-government lawmakers had called for the introduction an income tax during the budget debate that concluded Tuesday.
The calls from prominent MPs of the Progressive Party of Maldives came amid fierce criticism of plans to hike import duties and impose new taxes and fees next year.
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