The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has reported total revenue of MVR 2.12 billion for August 2025, reflecting a 6.9 percent increase compared to the same month last year. Collections also surpassed projections by 3.1 percent.
USD-denominated revenue amounted to USD 89 million, accounting for a significant share of the month’s intake. The bulk of receipts came from taxes linked to tourism activity, with Goods and Services Tax (GST) alone contributing more than half of the total. Income Tax followed as the second-largest contributor, while Green Tax, the Airport Development Fee, Departure Tax and Work Permit Fees also played key roles.
MIRA attributed the higher collection levels to stronger tourism performance. Tourist arrivals in August 2025 rose by 11.5 percent compared to the same month in 2024, which boosted receipts from Tourism GST (TGST), Green Tax, and airport-related levies. The impact of the increased Green Tax rates effective from January 2025 and higher airport taxes introduced in December 2024 also fed into this growth.
Beyond regular collections, revenue was lifted by one-off payments under the Corporate Social Responsibility Fee. MIRA also noted improved recovery of overdue payments, with 22.9 percent of August revenue coming from outstanding dues, while targeted enforcement actions secured a further 9 percent.
The data shows that while tourism-linked taxes continue to dominate government revenue, the rise in overdue collections underscores ongoing challenges in tax compliance. At the same time, the stronger-than-expected performance offers some relief against fiscal pressures, as the government faces high debt and spending obligations.
