BRADES, Montserrat, February 7th, 2012 – In an effort to increase the level of compliance by residents of Montserrat to paying taxes, a mobile task force was launched Tuesday by the Montserrat Customs & Revenue Services (MCRS).
New Director General of MCRS Frank Ferguson said the task force, comprising of Customs officers and Inland Revenue staff will begin patrolling the island immediately with the focus on people who have been “non-compliant or are operating businesses outside of the system”.
Ferguson reassured the ordinary citizens that they have nothing to fear. “We are not targeting those that are paying but those that have been persistently abusing the system.”
The director general said prior to taking up the post five weeks ago, he assisted governments in eight nations that use customs and tax regimes to set up mobile task forces. These units, he said have been quite successful in bringing in revenue which enables the government to fund services such as education, health and the areas of high priority for citizens.
“It is not popular but very necessary,” Ferguson added. To date, MCRS has made 90% of its annual revenue collection target and Ferguson hopes that the introduction of the mobile team will enable them to reach their goal by the end of the financial year in March 2012.
Ferguson has also begun work to review the laws governing tax evasion as there has not been a case brought against anyone in over 40 years. He said there needs to be more legal sanctions to ensure that the government is able to collect what is owed.
The director general has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS) to work on cases together and offer law enforcement support where necessary.
The MCRS head is encouraging the public to share any information that can assist them in raising the level of compliance on Montserrat by calling 491-2463. Identities will be kept confidential.
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Montserrat News