PNg government on track to remove GST on 13 essential items
Photo:
RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has said his government is on track to remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 13 essential household items from 1 June.
This was a commitment made in last year's budget.
Marape has commended the Internal Revenue Commission for its efficiency in implementing government policy.
He specifically acknowledged IRC Commissioner-General Sam Koim and his team, "Sam Koim and his team have shown that when a policy becomes law, departments must act."
PNG Prime Minister James Marape said the project ideas were possible mid- or long-term projects. (Reuters: Rungroj Yongrit/Pool)
Photo:
Reuters/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool
Marape emphasised that these tax reforms form part of a broader package of relief measures introduced by his government in recent years to support struggling families.
"These include removing project fees from schools, paying tuition fees for elementary to secondary education, supporting higher education through the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP), and offering scholarships for high-performing students to study overseas. We've also provided tax relief by raising the income threshold for non-taxable earnings to K20,000," he said.
He says that next year, the government will remove 10 percent GST from first-time home buyers.
Marape said these measures are about helping real people - especially those in the informal sector, in rural areas, and families earning subsistence or low incomes.
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