Press Release

FICAC Commissioner joins Tax Compliance Taskforce launch

Posted by Media Team 11 December 2024

Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner, Barbara Malimali attended the launch of the Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS) Tax Compliance Taskforce in Nasese.

The taskforce, which is led by FRCS, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance was established to prevent, detect and address tax evasion and avoidance, as well as further strengthen tax compliance in Fiji.

The taskforce is chaired by FRCS Board Member, Nitin Ghandi and includes former Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (now FRCS) CEO Jitoko Tikolevu, former Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu, anti-corruption and governance expert Avaneesh Anand Raman and risk and financial management expert Pramesh Sharma.

In delivering the opening speech, Mr Ghandi says the Taskforce will address tax evasion cases that have led to revenue loss for the government over the years through an evidence-based approach.

The Taskforce has been appointed for an initial period of 12 months and aims to further strengthen tax compliance, prevent tax evasion and enhance revenue collection through rigorous enforcement and collaborative efforts with relevant agencies and businesses.

In addition, the Taskforce will operate in collaboration with the role of the Commissioner of Tax under the FRCS Act, the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit, FICAC, the Fiji Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other relevant agencies.

A framework is being developed for the Taskforce to have a defined structure and guidelines for operation and a Memorandum of Understanding is also in the pipeline in the coming months.

In launching the establishment of the Taskforce this morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Honorable Biman Prasad urged the agencies to work together.

During the induction training this morning, participants discussed the roles and functions of their respective institutions and finding avenues to collaborate through knowledge-sharing and inter-agency case referrals in order to address tax compliance, in particular, tax evasion cases.

Also present at the Taskforce launch was FRCS Board Chair Malakai Naiyaga and Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Nancy Tikoisuva.