Dear Editor,
Plans by the GRA that are being backed by the government to target internet call centres for tax evasion is a direct attack on the majority of the poorer, overtaxed population. This facility is used by these people since they cannot afford the high call charges demanded by GT&T. I do hope that they remember this action by the government when it comes to election time.
In the developed countries, once you have an internet connection you can talk unlimited for free anywhere in the world to anyone who also has an internet connection using programs such as Skype, etc. These developed countries understand the need for cheap (free) communication and do not target the service providers.
I urge the GRA and the government to target the larger, more corrupt persons and business entities, especially those who pay lower taxes than a PAYE employee, yet still have properties and modern vehicles. There is too much tax evasion and corruption in Guyana and it needs to be tackled from the big fish down, not the other way around.
Yours faithfully,
Raymond Persaud
i fully agree with mr persaud comment.
Well Khurshid Sattaur does not pay taxes…..(he has a tax free contract) so we could start with him
Rambler:Let us address the matter and leave Mr.Sattaur out of it. Tax evasion is a serious crime , unlike tax avoidance.Of course it is better to get business to pay tax rather than to charge them for not paying. We can also ask Mr. Sattaur to give explain the tax law and if these businesses? are underreporting income.
Keep a cool head.
The GRA does not have jurisdiction to close call centres or enforce any telecommunications legislation. Frankly, they know very little about VOIP.
What they can and should do is enforce the tax rules on everyone including Call-centres. I do know of one VSAT VOIP operator who collects VAT and I assume this is remitted to the GRA (I will not comment on their full compliance with VAT law as I do not know).
Oh my my pressure and more pressure on poor people. Approximately 99.9% of poor people use these cheap services. So this is a direct burden on the poor people again. Only who feels it knows it. I hope the relevant authorities take a closer look at this issue.
I thought when we started paying VAT it covered everything. Look, this is just another example of this govenment’s incompetence.
This nation lacks leadership!
This is preposterous, once you have an internet connection I think you can do whatever you want. Is there any law, if so start collecting revenue from the big fat cats.
Quote ” if so start collecting revenue from the big fat cats”
You right!
Start with the head honcho… Khurshid Sattaur !!
government seem to only help the rich…. the big ones who can afford anything in life getting all the fringe benefits while the small man can only work for food, clothing and shelter all his life.
THE WORLD IS POWERED BY THE SMALL MAN.
Stop being emotional. If you operate a business you have to pay taxes. Yes, if you have an internet connection you can make calls but don’t do it as a service – collecting money from people and expect the gov’t to turn a blind eye.
Sorry James,…but I don’t get your point.
Where is this turning a ‘blind eye’ applicable?
See my response above to r sdasai and then perhaps you might see what
is really involved here. It is the GRA which has to do a proper job and not
issues threats.
Send the auditors to work on site! [ that is if they can be fully trusted !...hehehehe]
Ask Mr. Sattur if it is true that his job allows him tax exempt status and why.
Ask Mr. Sattur if all businesses that opened up since Jageo became President have been probed by the GRA to determine source of income and status of payments.
It would seem to me that the GRA is being conveniently used by the government when the government has an axe to grind.
r sdasai ….you missing the crux of the matter:
1. Mr.Sattaur is well paid and pays no income taxes. You think that is right?
2. the alleged tax evasion is a fabrication. It has NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED.
3. there is NO UNDERREPORTING OF INCOME.There we go again with
a fabrication. The point is not underreporting but not paying applicable
VAT [ a horrendous tax the brainless in the Government pushed through ]
4. in a prior post, I suggested that Sattaur send out his auditors to do an
income analysis and calculate the applicable VAT, then bill the cafe owners
for the unremitted VAT.
5. just in case you are not au fait with VAT, the vendor or supplier collects the
VAT as an agent of the government and has to remit it to the government.
Lesson over for now!
Mr Carl mye response was to the letter writer he is assuming that people in the developed world are making internet calls free. My point is that you can make calls free as long as ur not doing it on a commercial basis ( selling the service to others). And this beef about VAT. Were you in Canada when they implemented GST? They only planned to have it for one or two years and its still here after so many years.
Carl i wrote that the head of the GRA does not pay taxes on his earnings and u did not believe me …U see i was right.