Finance Minister Urges Tax Officials to Win Taxpayers' Trust, Not Collect Revenue Through Fear

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has directed tax administrators to collect revenue by building taxpayers' confidence rather than intimidating them. Addressing tax officers at the Inland Revenue Department on Thursday, he stressed that improving tax administration should make taxpayers feel that paying taxes is a fair and convenient responsibility, not a burden. He also urged officials to expand the tax base through voluntary compliance instead of coercive measures. The minister instructed the department to promptly report any shortages of manpower, infrastructure, or information technology affecting tax administration. He pledged to reward high-performing employees and called for the effective implementation of tax relief measures announced in the budget, greater taxpayer awareness, and increased digitalization of business transactions. Dr. Wagle also urged officials to strengthen efforts against money laundering to help Nepal exit the FATF grey list and clarified that career advancement would be based on performance, warning employees against using political influence for transfers.