Gizmos & Gadgets yesterday maintained that the enterprise has consistently operated a well run, successful business which has adhered to all its tax and financial obligations.
Following a press release by the Guyana Revenue Authority saying that Gizmos and Gadgets and its subsidiaries were suspected of widespread evasion of the payment of VAT and other taxes, the enterprise said in a news release yesterday, “We reject the vicious implications of criminality made by the GRA when they have yet to inform the business of any criminal activity.”
“Gizmos and Gadgets and all their related businesses categorically reject these malicious and slanderous statements emanating from the Guyana Revenue Autho-rity,” the enterprise stated.
It said further that it had read the GRA release “with considerable disappointment,” and noted that GRA had audited one of the group’s businesses earlier this year and “approved of the entity’s operations.”
Gizmos said it was most unfortunate that the GRA officers who visited the business on Monday informed them that they were conducting a full audit while “surreptitiously issuing (a) public statement accusing our business of criminal activity.”
“It is clear that the intention of the GRA is to maliciously damage our business before the conclusion of any investigation,” Gizmos & Gadgets asserted.
Meanwhile, the enterprise expressed the hope that the GRA would afford it the “opportunity of addressing any concerns they may have before causing irreparable damage to our reputation by the release of false and inaccurate statements to the public.”
Officials of the GRA along with police on Monday swooped on Gizmos & Gadgets and its subsidiaries, seizing company records on the suspicion that it has been evading taxes.
In a press statement, the GRA stated that the businesses are believed to be engaged in the practice of maintaining “dual books,” a corrupt process to evade the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes.
The GRA said officers went to Gizmos & Gadgets, Auto Zone, Wireless Rush and Excel, all owned by the same person, as information, including source documents was provided by “reliable sources,” implicating the businesses to be guilty of widespread evasion of the payment of VAT and other taxes.
The release said Commissioner-General of the GRA Khurshid Sattaur gave approval for the covert operation, which was spearheaded by the GRA’s Enforcement Division. The GRA officials were accompanied by police officers.
In the GRA release it was pointed out that the law gives the GRA the power to enter the premises of a business which is believed to be involved in fraudulent practices and to take possession of computers and business records.
The operation is to continue as a number of other businesses will be targeted as the GRA is bent on “eradicating this unethical and criminal practice and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
This is a lie…and I have proof but I would not say because SN will delete the comment…by the way isn’t the owner of Gizmos CN Sharma son-in-law??
Is the government using the tax code to destroy its perceived enemies? Shades of Richard Nixon and his enemies’ list.
Bora we always want the gov’t to persecute but when they do its not the right person. Why don’t you send a list to the gov’t for them to persecute?
every one is “NOT GUILTY”, the facts will reveal later, why worry.
Businessmen are the worst offenders of the tax code of any country and in Guyana businessmen are rabid supporters of the ruling party.
Every midday, after I lunch on roti and duck curry, I ask myself one question: Does the Guyana Revenue Authority have a database of every self-employed person in Guyana, including doctors and lawyers, businessmen and plumbers, columnists and sex workers?
Switch ya dish and ask yaself another question
Every midday Huh. Your life is very fulfilling and exciting. What do you think of during your morning constitutional? More constipated thoughts.
Stop talking to your-self and go hunt for more ducks.
thats all you eat every day yasuman?
About time people start paying their taxes, if they want a better and healthier public services ie, good roads, refuse collections, drains and trenches maintenance, just to name a few.
Who would admit to evading taxes?
No one.
About four years ago, eight family members of the Gizmo’s owner entered Timehri with 16 suitcases jam packed with cellphones. They were fined. Ask them if this is not true.
Roger’s “exports”were tax-free. Database is only for those who do not co-operate.
Not I!
Why is the identity of the owner of Gizmos being protected???
The whole system of this VAT in Guyana is questionable. As some previously inquired . is there a computerized data base of all the business owners and self employed persons in Guyan? I’m of the opinion that the turnover of VAT is very lax. The entire burden of this tax is turned over to the poor working class with little or no documented procedures on how to turn it over to the Government. I do not know who the owner of this GIZMOS place is, but I think as usual this government is beinng selective in it targets for tax evasion. I await the day when there will be a countrywide campaign against defaulters without regards to race creed or political affiliation. Only at that time will he poor working class (who pays this tax) be able to get some benefit for this tax once it gets to the national coffers.