F inance Minister Sam Rainsy unveiled a new tax package which includes a range of
measures designed to boost government coffers and make tax collection fairer, at
the Tokyo ICORC.
Speaking at the conference, Rainsy told delegates the
new measures were part of a campaign to reform tax administration.
"Our objectives are to achieve a more balanced distribution between direct
and indirect taxation and to avoid over-dependence on customs
revenue.
"Since September last year, we began rationalizing the tax
collection system in order to increase the amount of revenue collected and
improve social justice.
"Following the recent introduction of a
standardized accounting system, we will also introduce a corporate profits tax
with a single 20 percent rate," the minister said.
The new measures,
which include an income tax based on salary and taxed at progressive rates
ranging from 10 to 30 percent, and a construction permit tax, would soon be
submitted to the National Assembly.
The minister said the new measures
contained provisions for "a stream-lined profits tax with progressive rates from
10 to 30 percent, extension of the 10 percent tax on real estate rentals to all
leases, the extension of the 10 percent hotel room tax on all leisure
activities, and a tax on vehicles and other forms of transport."
After
the National Assembly accepted the 1994 Budget law, on Dec 28 l993, and royal
assent by King Sihanouk was given, many new taxes were put into effect,
.
Measures already in place include, identification of taxpayers,
improving the basis for calculation, and simplification of the payment
mechanism.
Taxing actual rather than presumed earnings for the largest
corporate taxpayers, requiring certified company accounts and the placement of
all corporate taxpayers under the Tax Department are other measures the minister
believes will make tax collection fairer.
