Tax evaders to be Named and Shamed after passing of bill

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service will now publicly identify and publish the names of persons or companies who intentionally avoid paying the right taxes due.

This “Name and Shame” concept will now come into force after the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service amendment bill was enacted by Parliament.

The bill states that when a company or person is found to be evading tax, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service may publish their name and information if their gross turnover equals or exceeds $1.5 million in a tax year.

Information about the tax evader which can be published is the name, area of residence and registered office of the person or tax or customs agent.

The particulars of the sum of the tax or duty lawfully owed and the penalties applicable will also be published.

According to the bill, a person who has been named and shamed can also write to the Fiji Revenue Customs Service if the information published is wrong.

The Fiji Revenue Customs Service will then have to correct the information.

Speaking on the bill in parliament, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum said some people who are actually owners of large shares in listed companies show their annual income as $25,000.

He says the Name and Shame concept has also been adopted in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.

Sayed‑Khaiyum also said that an accounting firm which is one of the top four accounting firms in Fiji was helping a company evade tax.

NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad said we cannot compare the economy in Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom with Fiji.

He said a lot more discussion is needed on the bill and it should have gone to the Standing Committee so that they could hear from those that would be affected by the bill.