State receivables from unpaid taxes, rent and fees reached MVR 14.5 billion at the end of the first quarter of this year, according to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

The total increased by 5 per cent from MVR 13.8 billion recorded at the end of the same period last year.

Unpaid taxes accounted for the largest share of outstanding receivables, rising from MVR 7.8 billion to MVR 8.2 billion. Outstanding amounts included MVR 3.5 billion in Goods and Services Tax (GST), MVR 1.6 billion in Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST), and MVR 2.4 billion in income tax.

Outstanding resort lease payments also increased, rising from MVR 5.7 billion to over MVR 6 billion during the first three months of the year. In addition, outstanding payments owed by state-owned enterprises reached MVR 3.5 billion, of which MVR 3.3 billion comprised unpaid direct taxes.

Despite the increase in outstanding receivables, MIRA said it recovered MVR 2 billion during the first quarter through various enforcement measures, including issuing notices to debtors and freezing bank accounts where necessary.