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Internal Revenue Mobilization Strategy 2081: Ambitious Goals and Strategies

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Internal Revenue Mobilization Strategy 2081: Ambitious Goals and Strategies

The Ministry of Finance of the Government of Nepal has issued the Internal Revenue Mobilization Strategy (DRMS) for the fiscal years 2081/82 to 2085/86, aiming to increase the revenue-to-GDP ratio to 23.5%. To achieve this, improvements will be made in tax revenue, non-tax revenue, and various tax ratios.

Key Objectives:

  1. Increase in Revenue-to-GDP Ratio:

    • Period: Fiscal Year 2079/80 to 2085/86.

    • Targets:

      • Total Revenue-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 18.9% to 23.5%.

      • Tax Revenue-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 16.2% to 20.9%.

      • Non-Tax Revenue-to-GDP Ratio: Target at 2.6%.

      • Budget Deficit-to-GDP Ratio: Reduce from 7.02% to 6.05%.

  2. Increase in Specific Tax Ratios:

    • Income Tax-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 4.7% to 6.9%.

    • Personal Income Tax-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 2.5% to 3.7%.

    • Corporate Income Tax-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 2.2% to 3.2%.

    • Value Added Tax (VAT)-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 5.4% to 6.2%.

    • Domestic VAT-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 2.2% to 2.5%.

    • Import-Based VAT-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 3.2% to 3.8%.

    • Excise Duty-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 2.7% to 3%.

    • Customs Duty-to-GDP Ratio: Increase from 3.4% to 4.5%.

Policy Measures:

  1. Digital Systems and Tax Audits:

    • Promote digital payments, market monitoring, and surveillance to reduce tax evasion.

    • Strengthen the use of digital systems for taxpayer services.

  2. Improvement in Tax Administration:

    • Strengthen the risk management capacity of tax and customs administration.

    • Implement measures to automate tax and customs administration.

  3. Trade Facilitation and Voluntary Tax Compliance:

    • Promote trade facilitation and increase the rate of voluntary tax compliance.

  4. Expansion of Tax Collection Scope:

    • Strengthen internal revenue by bringing all income-generating activities within the tax net.

Financial Challenges and Mitigative Measures:

  • Impact of COVID-19: The slowdown in Nepal's economy following COVID-19 has severely impacted industrial production and revenue collection, leading to a negative 10% decline in revenue collection in the fiscal year 2079/80.

  • Challenges from Low Growth in Tax Revenue: The relatively low growth in tax revenue has created a challenging financial environment for increasing public expenditure, prompting the government to rely on domestic and foreign loans.

  • Strategies for Financial Pressure and Budget Deficit: To address financial pressure and manage the budget deficit, the government will focus on increasing revenue mobilization from internal sources, enhancing voluntary compliance with tax laws and operating systems, and strengthening risk management capacity.

Conclusion:

Through the Internal Revenue Mobilization Strategy, the Government of Nepal aims to achieve economic stability by increasing tax and non-tax revenue. Its implementation is expected to address the slowdown in revenue collection, manage the budget deficit, and alleviate financial pressure on public expenditure.

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