Qasim leaves committee for commencing work on Income Tax Bill

Following the submission of the Income Tax Bill to the ongoing session of the People’s Majlis and the committee's commencement of work for the bill, MP for Maamigili constituency Qasim Ibrahim has left the Committee on Economic Affairs

Central Maafannu MP and Vice Chair of the committee, Ibrahim Rasheed told RaajjeMV that Qasim left the committee meeting on Monday when members began deliberations on the Income Tax Bill which was put on the agenda for the meeting.

As the Vice Chair, Rasheed expressed his discontent with Qasim having left the committee as he is displeased with it carrying out work for the Income Tax Bill.

Although Qasim previously stated that it is the committee that must carry out work for the bill and not the government, he had expressed displeasure in the committee when it started work.

While the government plans to forward 34 bills to the ongoing session of the 19th Parliament, the Economic Affairs Committee has currently taken on work of five bills including the Income Tax Bill.

The others are amendments to the Tourism Act, the act on provision of allowance for those seeking employment, minimum wage bill and the forensic bill.

Committee members have decided to speed up the work on all five bills by forming sub committees.

Previously, the Jumhooree Party leader had stated that implementation of the Income Tax Bill will discourage foreign investment which will in turn lead to a massive issue because of the projected expenditure being higher than the projected income.

However, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Dr. Azeema Adam has stated that implementing the tax act is necessary as it will help minimize income discrimination in Maldives.

While introducing the bill was included in the government’s campaign pledges, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had stated that it is necessary to “bridge the gap between rich and poor and to complete the taxation system introduced by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s government”.

He assured the people that the bill will come to effect in the coming year, 2020.