KATHMANDU, June 9: Bibeksheel Nepali Party has urged the government not to exert undue pressure on the people to pay taxes as long as the nationwide lockdown continues to be in place.
The party has also asked the government to make necessary arrangements for payment of taxes within six months of the lifting of the lockdown. The government has extended the tax settlement deadline till June 21 as the lockdown will be in place till June 14.
Supreme Court directs govt to extend deadline for tax payment
Issuing a press statement, the party said the pressure exerted on the general public to pay taxes is inhumane, impractical and the height of irresponsibility of the government.
"It is the duty of the government to address the problems of the people in the times of crisis. Governments in other countries have been fulfilling their duties accordingly," said the press statement issued by the party's Vice President Ajeeta Rai. "But the government in our country is not as people-friendly. It has also failed to promote entrepreneurship."
Rai asked the government to provide basic goods and services to the people so that they can make a living during this crisis. "If the government is not able to provide those things, the government should not move forward to take anything from the people," she said.
Rai said that since the Supreme Court in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Tika Ram Bhattarai has already set a precedent to declare the lockdown period as a zero period, the government should provide a discount in the taxes and fees to provide incentives to the people considering the lockdown period as a zero period.
