Auditor General Hussain Niyazy has advised giving additional legal powers to the bodies responsible for collecting revenue owed to the state, so that the money can be collected within the period it is due.

The Auditor General gave this advice at today's meeting of the People's Majlis Budget Committee, held to review the budget the government has submitted to the Majlis for 2027.

In the report submitted to the committee today, setting out the issues the Auditor General noted in next year's proposed budget, he highlighted as a major concern that the money owed to the state as revenue has been increasing at a large rate year on year in recent years.

The report noted that both tax revenue and non-tax revenue owed to the state have increased enormously.

"In addition, comparing 2021 and 2025, these amounts have increased very substantially. Of particular concern is the growth in tax revenue that is owed but has not been received, which has stood out in recent years," the Auditor General said.

He also said that audits by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) and information from the offices that collect state revenue show that the number of parties that have not paid money owed to the state is growing.

He therefore advised increasing the legal powers given to agencies that collect state revenue, so that the money is recovered within the period it is due to the state.