State bids to ease tax debts

THE government is preparing a new bill to assist people unable to pay old tax debts pending since 1999.

Aristos Chrysostomou, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said the new bill would provide special arrangements for people facing difficulties in paying old tax debts due to financial or health problems or other serious issues.

“The bill deals with pending tax debts from 1999 which are not being paid off from debtors because of real difficulties, either serious economic or health problems, not allowing them to pay the whole sum, but only part of the sum,” said Chrysostomou.
The chairman said the bill was ready to be pushed through parliament, noting that it would have an affect on many cases pending since 1999.

“The Finance Ministry decided that the bill would remain in effect until 2007 so everyone with problems could submit their application and the issue would end,” he said.

The old tax debts affected by the bill amount to £40 million. “From this, some will be paid, some will not, and the matter will close. It creates a lot of bureaucracy to keep all these files open, and fines are added along with interest, which creates a vicious circle in reality,” he added.

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