12 parties have been included in the list of resort operators that have not paid their tourism land rent.
The list, published at the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) Tax Payer Service Center, includes the following parties:
- A.A.A. Trading Company – Filitheyo Island Resort
- Athama Marine International – Kihaa Maldives
- A.B.N. – Brennia Kottefaru
- Heavy Load Maldives – Rahaa Resort
- Bon Free – JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
- Medhufushi Investment – Medhufushi Island Resort
- Platinum Capital Holdings – Eriyadhoo Island Resort
- South Palm Maldives – South Palm Resort Maldives
- Sunland Hotels – Coco Palm Dhunikolhu, Biyadhoo Island Resort
- Sunland Travel – Makunudhoo Island Resort
- Theluveliga Retreat – Drift Theluveliga Retreat
- Abdulla Ali – Hondafushi Island Resort
According to the policy that came into effect last month, publishing the list at MIRA’s Service Center is the first step of action towards such tax non-payers. After this, the measures to be taken against them are:
- Publishing the list on MIRA’s website
- Publishing the list on the Government Gazette
- Broadcasting the list on mass media
MIRA’s policy states that 15 days must be spent between each of these phases.
According to the policy, the information of those who have not paid their dues except tax payments will be disclosed if the total amount of money to be paid exceeds a certain amount set by MIRA. The minimum non-payment amount for a party to be added to the list is MVR 100,000.
An audit report by MIRA in 2020 revealed that the state is owed nearly MVR 17 billion as resort rent and fines for non-payment. Noting that this is 78 percent of the money not received by the state, the Auditor General’s Office has advised to take swift action to recover the funds.
