KATHMANDU, Nov 18: The cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday will discuss a proposal on collecting 200 million in tax and dues from from ex-king Gyanendra and four members of his family, who enjoyed tax exemption until the monarchy was abolished in 2008.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Tuesday approved the proposal prepared by Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) to be present at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, an aide to the prime minister told myrepublica.com on condition of anonymity. Wednesday´s cabinet meeting is likely to take a decision over the matter.
According to the proposal prepared by OPMCM, at the request of the ex-king who showed desires to pay tax, the ex-king and family members will have to pay Rs 200 million in tax and tariff on their properties and facilities.
"Telephone, electricity and water bills and property tax should be collected from ex-king Gyanendra and four of his family members," reads a proposal signed by Prime Minister Nepal.
A formal cabinet decision is required to legalize a system for bringing the ex-king and family members under the tax net. After the cabinet decision, the deposed king and family members will pay property tax and tariffs like ordinary Nepali citizens as per existing legal provisions.
After the cabinet takes a decision, the government will collect tax and tariff incurred by the former king and family members after May 8, 2008, when the country was declared a republic.
There had been some confusion about the period for which the former king needed to pay taxes. "As requested by him, he will have to pay tax only after he became a commoner some two years ago," the PM´s aide told myrepublica.com, requesting to remain unnamed.
According to an OPMCM official, altogether 286 telephone lines were used by the deposed king and family members. But documents submitted at OPMCM by one of the ex-king´s aides show that they were using only 24 lines.
"As per the existing legal provision, the ex-king is responsible for paying utility bills and property tax on his personal residence Nirmal Niwas where he lived as prince till June 2001; on Jeevan Kunj belonging to his brother Dhirendra, and Shobha Kunj, the residence of his sister Shobha," states a proposal signed by Prime Minister Nepal.
Earlier, Gyanendra´s brother Dhirendra´s daughters Sitashma and Dilasha paid Rs 45 million as tax following brief confusion over the period for which they were taxable. The Income Tax Act - 2049 has exempted only the king from paying tax but not a single royal family member has paid any tax.
This is the first time that the government is going to collect tax and bills from the ex-king and members of his family.
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This is the only Democratic and Soveirgn act it has done as an independent state. Rest we know that it is decided by Delhi Durbar. May be who knows this was also advised by our NEW LORDS in DELHI
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