The state collected MVR 2.63 billion in revenue in April 2026, broadly holding last year’s level even as weaker tourism-related receipts weighed on several major tax categories.
According to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority’s April Monthly Revenue Collection Report, total revenue stood at MVR 2.63 billion, including USD 120.70 million in dollar revenue. The figure was 16.6 percent higher than forecast, but 0.3 percent lower than the amount collected in April 2025.
The performance suggests that stronger enforcement and collections from past deadlines helped offset pressure from tourism-linked revenue streams. MIRA said 32.6 percent of monthly revenue came from payments received after past deadlines, while a further 14.2 percent was collected through targeted initiatives to recover outstanding dues.
GST remained the largest contributor, accounting for 63.6 percent of total revenue, or MVR 1.67 billion. Green Tax followed with MVR 185 million, while Income Tax contributed MVR 178 million. Airport Development Fee and Departure Tax each brought in MVR 152 million, while Tourism Land Rent contributed MVR 129 million.
The stronger-than-expected collection was attributed mainly to higher receipts from GST, Tourism Land Rent and work permit fees. Revenue from projected codes reached MVR 2.61 billion, compared with a forecast of MVR 2.23 billion.
However, the annual comparison shows a more cautious picture. Revenue was slightly below April 2025, mainly due to lower collections from Tourism GST, Green Tax and airport-related taxes and fees. MIRA linked the decline in tourism-related revenue to the fall in tourist arrivals in March 2026, which it said dropped 19.8 percent compared with March 2025 amid the ongoing conflict.
The composition of revenue also points to a growing role for recovery measures. Enforced collections reached MVR 543 million in April, with MVR 372 million collected through dunning, MVR 96 million through dues clearance, MVR 64 million through instalment plans, MVR 5 million through reminder calls and emails, and MVR 4 million through action policy measures.
The April figures show that while revenue collection remains resilient, part of that resilience is being supported by recovery of overdue payments rather than only current-period economic activity. For public finances, this creates a mixed signal: monthly collections remain above forecast, but weaker tourism-linked receipts may become more consequential if external pressures continue to affect arrivals and travel demand.
