Wake up Inland Revenue

THE EDITOR: Public servants are probably the only people in this country who pay their income taxes in time and the correct amounts. Thanks to PAYE. I recently did my own investigation into the income tax arena and was left bewildered at the incompetence of the Inland Revenue Department. I am not only speaking about late payments of income tax refunds or the bureaucracy at the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) office.

I am speaking about citizens of this twin island republic and their blatant disregard of taxes especially their non-compliance when it comes to paying income taxes. There are many in our midst who have been cheating the inadequate, antiquated taxing system for decades and the BIR are turning a blind eye. I am sure there are officers being paid to investigate breaches of the nation’s tax laws.

I recently spoke to a businessman whose income is 20 times that of the average public servant, yet he pays less tax. What about small business owners, maxi taxi owners and other professionals who have been evading taxes? These people use all the facilities provided by honest taxpayers! However, we always see people who do not pay taxes, complaining about the lack of services at public institutions eg hospitals. Is that the hand out syndrome that was created by the government? Come on BIR, investigate these unscrupulous persons and get the fraud squad involved.

JOHN MOHAMMED
Lange Park, Chaguanas