TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Non-resident Goans may soon be able to pay various annual state taxes, without the need of their physical presence, as the government is contemplating setting up a ‘NRI depository’.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the state legislative assembly that the office of the NRI Commissioner can act as a depository for non-resident Goans where they can deposit their taxes for the next three years.
“The NRI office can act as a depository. The NRIs can deposit some nominal fee as advance and it can be deposited an on annual basis through the depository to the government,” he said.
Aldona legislator Glenn Ticlo raised a question in the house asking whether the government can accept advance payment of various taxes. He said that such a system of advance payment would reduce the inconvenience to the taxpayer and suggested a mechanism to collect taxes in advance for three years instead of receiving them annually.
He also narrated the difficulties faced by non-residents to make payment of annual taxes and bills like water, power during their short visit to Goa.
Parrikar, who is also the finance minister, said that he is fully aware of the difficulties faced. “I agree in principle to set up mechanism to collect advance tax from non-residents . The people who live abroad run from one place to another for payment of bills and taxes. We will try to reduce their burden,” he assured.
On the issue of advance tax, Parrikar admitted that collecting advance tax from general population is a complicated issue. “There are legal and procedural complications. It is a multifaceted process with various departments involved. The government will take a decision before the end of the current financial year,” he said.
