PNG’s personal income tax laws to undergo review

THE Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) will be reviewing the laws on personal income tax following the launch of its issues paper on the 1^st of October 2021.

The Terms of Reference on the review of Income Tax Laws in Papua New Guinea, specifically focuses on the Personal Income Tax paid by public servants and private sector employees, says Secretary Dr. Mange Matui.

 “This review is quite necessary because income tax seems to be very high in PNG,” he said, adding, this is according to the submissions made to the Tax Review Committee in 2014.

He said an internal discussion paper of 2018 which triggered the review, indicated, among other concerns, that public servants in particular are not benefitting from tax incentives and privileges, and consequently, most public servants working in towns and cities have been pushed to live and work from settlements and villages, exposing their lives to health and security risks.

Dr. Matui said the public and relevant stakeholders will be consulted to gauge their views on the Key Issues, including:

• the relationship of the living cost to the taxable income and whether tax rate should be reconsidered;
• public service tax incentives;
• whether Government should reduce the income tax of public servants;
• how informal sector can contribute to tax;
• whether superannuation and retirement benefits should be free of tax, and;
• other tax related issues.

He said CLRC is also mindful of the Government’s concerns and reliance on taxes to fund the National Budget, adding CLRC will tread this review with due consideration.

Dr. Matui said consultations, which is a legal requirement, will run in selected provinces starting with Eastern Highlands and Madang on the 4^th and 5th of October, Simbu and Morobe on the 7^th and 8^th of October, Manus and Northern on the 12^th and 13^th of October and NCD on the 27^th of October.

CLRC is also accepting written submissions until the 5^thof November2021.

The Commission is encouraging the public, tax experts, and persons who have working knowledge of tax or tax related matters to contribute their views by attending the regional consultations, visit the CLRC website www.clrc.gov.pg and Facebook page www.facebook.com/pngclrc  or email : lucymarago@gmail.com  .