Centre opens to help large firms deal with tax issues

THE Government has opened a Large Taxpayers’ Service Centre in Port Moresby to make it easier for large companies to engage with Government agencies, in particular the Internal Revenue Commission.
Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel said that while the government had been trying to promote small to medium-sized enterprises, “80 per cent of revenue collections come from the large taxpayers”.
“It’s not easy dealing with government agencies. And if we are emphasising revenue collection, we want to take steps to make that facilitation easier,” he said.
“I’m really pleased that the Government has created the special large taxpayers’ office in line with world’s best practice so that you get that particular attention and ease of engagement, particularly with the IRC.
“Our public service can be difficult to deal with at times and each and every one of you in the corporate sector is very important to us.”
He acknowledged the large investors who continued to “work and invest in PNG”.
Abel said because of the transition, temporary arrangements had been made at Era Rumana to cater for the general taxpayers and the public.
A one-month transition period will be given before the facility is opened to the large taxpayers and the general public at the new centre.
He Abel said the Government was also working on creating a Foreign Direct Investment stream over the next five years with the Papua LNG, PNG LNG expansion project and Wafi Golpu construction phases.
“These will also be under fiscal terms to give earlier revenue flows to Government when production commences,” he said.
This will bring in significant capital and revenue forex flows as well.”