-amended law will ensure returns filed before Drivers’, other licences issued-no special treatment for lawyers, doctors, other professionalsBy Leonard GildarieAn impending law change that will force taxpayers to ensure their annual returns are up-to-date, isFinance Minister, Winston Jordanexpected to capture thousands of non-compliant persons.Simple things like applying for a Driver’s Licence and renewal of the Road Service Licence will no longer be automatic. Rather,Air Max 97 Silver, once a person, registered with their Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN), is conducting business with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), they will have to be up-to-date.The affected licences will include that for firearm, professionals in the medical and legal field, rum-shops and a host of others which at one time would have been a minor application.On Friday, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, in his 2016 National Budget presentation, disclosed that there will be an amendment to the Tax Act to ensure that prior to the issuance of all licences for public use,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, including licences to conduct forms of trade and business,Supply NFL Jerseys, the applicant has to comply with his/her obligations to file annual returns and paid,Cheap Jerseys 2018, or has made arrangements to pay, all taxes due and payable.The law amendment will have widespread implications especially on taxpayers who have been non-compliant.For years now, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been grappling with tax evasion and leakages from non-compliant taxpayers, the biggest group coming from the self-employed.GRA, the state-controlled authority charged with revenue collection,Wholesale China Jerseys, has already signaled serious intentions to go after the guilty.Yesterday, responding to questions from reporters, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, revealed that according to estimations, only about 65 percent of the taxes due to GRA is collected.Government on the short and medium term, wants to lift this to 80 percent.It will not be easy as a host of non-compliant self employed persons are said to be involved – including rice farmers, miners and drivers and operators of public transportation.A law amendment will mandate taxpayers to be up-to-date with their returns before they can renew their licences.And the figures do not even reflect the correct tax being charged– many are under-reporting.According to Jordan, citing one example, it has been found that some professionals in the public service have private practices. They would file returns for their public service salaries but little or nothing for the private one.This is but one example. Amidst fears by lawyers and other professionals that GRA could be using the issuance of licences as a weapon, the Minister was dismissive, insisting that it is not the intention of the administration to stop anybody from doing their business.“…If you are not up-to-date on taxes, we are saying make an arrangement…for you to come up-to-date… not denying you your vocation or trade.”The spinoffs from tax collection, Jordan envisages, will impact on revenues which could be used for increasing salaries for public servants and other things.The Minister made it clear that nobody will be given special treatment, whether they are from the legal or medical field.As a matter of fact,Cheap Jerseys From China, income tax workers are forced to pay upfront even before they collect their salaries.According to Jordan, the professionals account for only three or four percent of the country’s taxes.“I say we have to do whatever is necessary to ensure that everybody pays taxes and pay their fair shares of taxes.”