The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has asked the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate and prosecute four guesthouses in Maafushi for alleged tax evasion. The guesthouses—Kaani Palm Beach, Kaani Grand Seaview, Kaani Village, and Kaani Beach, which operate under the name Kaani Hotels—are accused of misstating their taxes for the period between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2022.

MIRA claims that these businesses provided false information in their Business Profit Tax (BPT) and Income Tax statements to avoid paying taxes. MIRA launched an investigation and raided the businesses' office to collect documents and interview individuals involved.

The investigation found that Carney Hotels and Tours Private Limited, Asna Investments Private Limited, and their directors, Abdulla Nasheed and Aminath Asima Saleem, as well as Aishath Razna, who handles the business accounts, failed to report income from some guests. These guests came through foreign tour operators or as Free Independent Travelers (FITs), and income from services like airport transfers, restaurants, spas, and excursions was also not reported.

MIRA has asked the businesses to pay over USD 800,000 (MVR 13.3 million) in additional taxes. The authority stressed that failing to pay taxes or helping others avoid taxes is a serious offence.

MIRA has also been inspecting businesses in the tourism sector, including guesthouses in Maafushi, to help them fix any tax issues. As a result of these inspections, several businesses have been asked to correct their tax filings and pay any overdue amounts.