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Opposition urges full disclosure of individuals who received tax concession on luxury vehicles
Kaieteur News- A New and United Guyana (ANUG) has issued a call for full transparency from the government and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) regarding individuals and entities who have benefitted from tax exemptions on luxury vehicles, as concerns grow over alleged selective enforcement and political bias.
The Guyana Revenue Authority
The call comes on the heels of the GRA’s move on Saturday to seize several high-end vehicles belonging to Team Mohamed’s, with officials alleging that over $1.2 billion in taxes is owed through false declarations and misuse of remigrant concessions. The court has granted an injunction temporarily blocking GRA from seizing the vehicles.
However, Azruddin Mohamed has contended that the entire matter is politically driven, tied to fears he may run for office at the upcoming elections. He insisted that he has evidence proving the vehicles were legally approved and that government officials were aware of the vehicles even before they were imported. “We are not giving up the vehicles because the vehicles were approved, everything went through the legal process at GRA so why seize the vehicles now 4 years after,” he said.
In a statement on Saturday, ANUG expressed support for the enforcement of tax laws but took issue with what it described as apparent double standards. “If Mr. Mohamed is to be investigated or held accountable for receiving tax concessions, then by the same principle, all recipients of such benefits, both past and present, must be subject to equal scrutiny, regardless of their social standing, wealth, or political affiliation,” the party said.
ANUG called on the authorities to release the names of all persons or entities that have received duty-free or tax-exempt privileges over the past decade. The party stated, “Transparency is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement of good governance.”
Further, the group urged state institutions such as the GRA and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to operate independently and free from political manipulation. “These institutions must never be weaponized to serve the interests of any government or political party,” the party warned.
Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul has proposed a review of the current tax framework applied to luxury vehicles, suggesting that reforms could help eliminate abuse while simultaneously boosting state revenue. “It appears that most, if not all, luxury vehicles are entering Guyana either duty-free or under special agreements and arrangements with influential individuals, effectively evading the full taxes owed,” Mahipaul said.
He argued that reducing the current high rates of excise and duty taxes would increase affordability and compliance. “If the government revisits and lower the duty and excise tax rates, more Guyanese could afford luxury vehicles,” Mahipaul said.
He continued, “This would not only broaden ownership but also increase overall tax revenue, as more vehicles would be imported and taxed, albeit at a lower individual rate.”
(Opposition urges full disclosure of individuals who received tax concession on luxury vehicles)
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