Venidora Oliveira – The General Director for National Directorate for Land and Property (NDLP), Romao Guterres, has called on communities living on state-owned land to pay taxes.
Although 2000 people were paying taxes as required, he said many communities in Dili were occupying state-owned land and should pay monthly tax to the state through the NDLP.
Between 2000 and 2014 the NDLP was able to raise $26,884,669 in state revenues. In 2015 the total was $3,750,403 and from January to July this year the figure was $2.68 million. He said the NDLP was continuing to carry out land evaluations, but many people still did not pay taxes.
"We need to recruit 12 new staff to help conduct the surveys in Dili and we have already started doing Indonesian residences in Surikmas, Osindo, Delta and Perumnas [areas]," he said.
Most state-owned properties are leased to companies to run their businesses and foreign governments to construct residences for their ambassadors.
Communities are obligated under law to pay taxes every month to the state, even though the government could resume the land at any time for development or public interest. Under law no. I/2003 and law decree no. 18/2004, the government has a responsibility to collect tax revenues.
Meanwhile, national MP Josefa Alvares Soares said she appreciated the efforts of the NDLP to raise state revenues. She was also pleased that some communities were collaborating with the government to benefit the country's development.