As part of tax administration, the government rolls out tax amnesty from time to time.
Required:
i) What does tax amnesty seek to serve? (2 marks)
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Tax Amnesty is a limited-time Government pardon to eligible taxpayers- individuals and businesses- who have failed to register with the Commissioner-General, or file returns, or pay taxes as required by Law.
The purpose of the Amnesty is to improve voluntary tax compliance, increase tax revenues, make fairer tax reforms possible due to an expanded tax base and accelerate economic growth.
ii) What are the effects of tax amnesty on revenue? (2 marks)
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An amnesty typically allows individuals or firms to pay delinquent taxes without being subject to some or all of the financial and criminal penalties that the discovery of tax evasion normally brings. Tax amnesties are a controversial revenue-raising tool.
Tax amnesty has immediate and short-run revenue impact, and future tax revenues may increase if the amnesty induces individuals or corporations not on the tax rolls to participate, and if the amnesty is accompanied by more extensive taxpayer services, better education on taxpayer responsibilities, and, especially, stricter post-amnesty penalties for evaders and greater expenditures for enforcement.