Kathmandu, May 8
In the wake of protests against non-payment of tax to the government and pressure from several quarters, Ncell has paid part of the tax. It paid around 9.96 billion rupees to the Big Taxpayers’ Office on Sunday, according to Chuda Mani Sharma, director general at the internal revenue office. The private telecom operator still owes Rs 39 billion to the government in taxes.
Ncell had been making preparations for payment for a few days. A Swedish holding company had sold off 80 per cent of Ncell ownership to Axiata for around $1.36 billion in April. Ncell made the payment in the wake of pressure from several quarters and Axiata’s initiatives. The government had told Ncell to clear the taxes within May 8 itself.
