Irfaan Ali refutes tax evasion claims –says it’s a clear case of witch-hunting
FORMER Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali yesterday, via his Facebook page, refuted claims that he failed to pay taxes on a vehicle he purchased during his tenure.Ali’s response comes in the wake of media reports that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is moving to recover the over $40M he owes in taxes, some of which included duties on two luxury vehicles he reportedly imported within the last five years.
According to the former minister, he was informed by a senior GRA official that instructions were given to institute taxes on the motor vehicle he acquired as a Member of the 10th Parliament.
“All my actions,” he said, “have been consistently within the laws of Guyana, and as such I am putting the country on notice that these targeted actions to silence me will not succeed. I am prepared to deal with, and have all the documents to justify the stated facts. I anxiously await the purported letter; I have nothing to hide or fear, so would never succumb to any threats.”
However, as is stipulated by law, Government Ministers and Parliamentarians are entitled to tax waivers on vehicles.
According to the law: “A member of Parliament maybe entitled to one or two motor vehicles for every sitting of Parliament.”
Further, Section 23 (c) of the Customs Act states: “The eligible Public Officer, members of Parliament or qualifying re-migrant transfers or leases the motor vehicle prior to the expiration of three years in the case of a used vehicle and five years in the case of a new vehicle.”
Ali has maintained that the importation was legally done.
“This concession was recommended and approved by all the relevant authorities. I was shocked when this officer approached me on Friday night after Parliament to inform me that I will be receiving a letter from GRA on Monday, asking me to pay taxes on this vehicle,” Ali said via Facebook, adding:
“I said it before, and I will restate it, the witch-hunting and vindictive action aimed at members of the former Government will not move me and my convictions.”
He bolstered his argument by posting a letter he received from the GRA, dated March 3, 2014 and signed by Commissioner General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur, informing him that his request for tax exemptions on the two vehicles were granted, given the fact that he was last granted tax waivers on March 04, 2011 during the 9th Parliament.
That letter also informed Ali that since the motor vehicle he imported in 2011 was under four years of age, he would not be able to transfer it unless the pro-rated taxes are paid.
