Businesses should not underestimate the networks the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service has established.

Chief Executive, Visvanath Das says many times, tax non-compliant businesses think they will get away with their unethical behaviour.

However, Das says these businesses need to know they can’t get around the law.

“We have developed networks with all the municipalities – so all the business licenses that are happening so we get that information exchange with them – so the next time they will go to get their business licenses renewal they will be asked for a tax compliance certification – and they will end up at the tax office.”

Das made revelations that close to half of our local businesses are not paying their tax dues.

There is a total of forty-three thousand, one hundred and ninety-six active businesses in Fiji, however, only twenty-two thousand, three hundred and three businesses are paying their taxes.

Das says this dishonest behaviour is unfair on the over three hundred thousand salary earners as their tax dues are deducted at source by their employers.

Das warns if these unfaithful traders continue this trend they will have to pay up to three hundred percent in fines.