Traders in Humla have demanded that the government set up a branch office of Inland Revenue Office in the district, citing that the high expenses they have been bearing while visiting the tax office in Nepalgunj has been causing them uncalled for stress.

A small business owner in Humla pays around Rs 1,500 as annual tax to the government, but in the absence of a tax collection centre in the district, the owner is forced to spend up to Rs 30,000—a figure 20 times more— for travel and accommodation.   

 “As there aren’t any road facilities available in Humla, people have to travel by plane to reach Nepalgunj,” said Namgyal Tamang, chairman of Humla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that the traders also have to stay in Nepalgunj for at least two days to get the work done. This hassle comes to cost traders more than Rs30,000 with every trip they make to Nepalgunj.

There are around 200 businesspersons in Humla. Traders from Sarkeghat, Hilsa and Shreenagar have to walk for three to four days just to reach the district headquarters. They have demanded the authorities concerned to manage the tax-paying system at the district level.

Some of these traders have not even registered their businesses for they have problems with their taxes and cannot afford the additional expense that they have to bear.  

From the running fiscal year, the revenue of Karnali Province is going to be collected from Surkhet, a closer alternative than Nepalgunj but an inconvenience for traders nonetheless. “Though the higher authorities directed to collect tax in Surkhet, it will take some time to manage the system,” said Tamang.