The Tax Clearance Commission has reached an agreement with taxpayers, under which the later will clear Rs9.54 billion in outstanding dues.

The commission has so far settled cases with 1,069 applicants out of 1,726. The government had formed the commission last year under the leadership of Lumba Dwoj Mahat.

Of the total cases settled, 147 had pending administrative review, 128 were stuck at the Revenue Tribunal, 60 were under court consideration, 690 related to other dues and 44 related changed revenue cases, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said in a statement.

The biggest settled amount (Rs5.18 billion) is related to the cases that were under court consideration.

The commission said although the taxpayers agree on a certain amount of the tax to be paid, the agreement is not implemented properly in many cases, leaving the dues unpaid.

According to the IRD, there is a trend among the taxpayers to knock judicial agencies’ door, not being satisfied with the payable amount determined by the tax authority. And, such cases take a long time to settle, especially those related to big tax payments are also stuck in such situation. “Such trends prompted the government to form the commission,” said the IRD.

Tax dues pile up when taxpayers are reluctant to pay or when their tax paying ability dilutes because of various reasons, including industries turning sick.

The  commission has suggested the tax authority to maintain a swift account of taxpayers and minimise the mistake the tax administration commits in the determination of payable taxes under wrong tax heading or wrong taxpayers.