Deputy Attorney General Vows Tough Action Against UN Employees for not Paying Tax

Garowe (PP News Desk) — The Puntland Deputy Attorney General Mohamed Hared today briefed the local media on a correspondence from the Income Tax Department of Puntland Finance Ministry.

The Deputy Director of Income Tax Department wrote to the Attorney General’s office to speed up a tax evasion case against UN employees in Puntland.

“The Attorney General’s Office instructs 140 UN local employees to pay their tax liabilities in accordance with the Ministry of Finance laws not later than 27 August. Refusal to pay the tax will result in lawsuit because it is akin to not following orders from the powers that be. Tax evaders will be fined. In the event of not paying the tax liabilities and the fine, the Attorney General’s Office will put forward a request to convert the unpaid tax and fine to lawful arrest” Hared said.

The UN local staff have long worked in Puntland State. There has never been tax evasion accusation against UN staff.

Complications may emerge if UN agreement with the Federal Government of Somalia contradicts tax laws in Puntland as far as UN employees are concerned.

The Puntland tax law will set a precedent that will oblige UN staff in Somalia and AMISOM soldiers to pay tax on their salaries.

© Puntland Post, 2020