Deal ensures commission will monitor taxpayers’ movement

THE Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) can now have access to taxpayers’ postal addresses and monitor their movements following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Post PNG on Friday.
This will address ongoing issue of non-receipt of IRC mail by taxpayers, constant changing of addresses and locations by taxpayers and failure to notify the IRC of taxpayers updated addresses for service.
It was also identified by the IRC that usage of duplicate postal addresses by a lot of taxpayers was a primary reason why its notices, correspondence and court orders did not reach intended taxpayers.
IRC commissioner Sam Koim said: “The partnership is aimed at reducing the evasive behaviour of taxpayers.
“With the new MoU arrangement, taxpayers without a private letter box will be referred to Post PNG for a mandatory registration of a private letter box.”
Koim said the IRC would no longer accept and allow taxpayers who signed under another address – care of – for services on their tax returns or any documents relating to their tax affairs.
“Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) will only be issued to taxpayers with an updated and privately owned private letter box.”
Koim said that TIN certificates and certificates of compliance would become mandatory requirement taxpayers would provide to Post PNG, particularly individuals, companies, business names and SMEs intending to register for private letter boxes for purposes of generating income.
He said this would not affect individuals intending on registering a private letter box for purpose other than running a business.
Post PNG chief executive officer Peter Tepure: “We will streamline and merge IRC’s database with our Post PNG clientele database and the link will be provided to IRC to have access.”