MVR 2.6 billion in lease and fines have not been paid to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) by resorts being operated in the Maldives.
An information request was submitted by Aiman Latheef to MIRA in which he had asked for details of all due payments currently pending from resorts being operated in the Maldives.
As of 31 January 2022, MIRA disclosed that USD45 million in lease was pending from 26 resorts; USD 105 million in fines were also due from 12 resorts. This amounts to a total of USD 150 million (MVR 2.3 billion).
In addition, MIRA is owed USD3.7 billion in Green Tax, and USD17.5 million in TGST.
The pending payments; lease, fines, TGST, Green Tax; amounted to USD 171 million (MVR 2.6 billion).
No action had been taken against any of these resorts as a result of these large pending payments. However, small businesses often face severe difficulties and obstacles because of pending payments of a much smaller-scale than those due to be paid by the resorts.
Some of the resorts that have incurred these large pending payments belong to Qasim Ibrahim and AAA Hotels and Resorts, President's Office Minister Ali Shiyam's family business.