KATHMANDU.

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order to the government for making the necessary arrangements for paying tax within 30 days from the date when the lockdown is fully relaxed. A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kumar Singha and Manoj Kumar Sharma issued this order on Wednesday. In its order, the Supreme Court has urged the government to make arrangements so that the tax payers will be able to submit the related details and pay tax within 30 days since the date the lockdown is fully lifted. 

The Supreme Court’s this order comes in the context of the Ministry of Finance, Inland Revenue Department’s notice calling for paying of taxes and submission of details within June 21 and 29. The apex court has also ordered the government to ease and simplify the process and procedures for submission of tax details and payment of tax taking into account the possible situation warranting adoption of various safety measures including maintaining social distance even after the relaxation of the lockdown.

It may be recalled here that the Inland Revenue Department through a notice it issued on June 2 directed all taxpayers to pay tax within June 7. The government had extended this deadline until June 21 following intense criticism of its decision by the business community citing the closure of industries, work, trade and all business enterprises due to the lockdown. The government had imposed lockdown throughout the country from March 24 to stem the spread of coronavirus pandemic.