The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has issued a public notice to clarify misinformation circulating about the mandatory Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) requirement for mobile wallet accounts.
FRCS said it has observed confusion regarding the application of penalties and imprisonment provisions linked to the TIN requirement.
FRCS clarified that penalties under Section 34A(2) of the Tax Administration Act apply only to business taxpayers and are consistent with other offences related to tax non-compliance.
These provisions, the authority stressed, do not apply to individuals or personal users of mobile wallet services.
“At no point are individual consumers or ordinary users of mobile wallet services subject to a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment of up to 10 years under this provision,” FRCS said.
The revenue authority also addressed concerns that the requirement was a revenue-raising measure, stating that the mandatory TIN for e-wallet accounts does not introduce any new taxes.
FRCS said the requirement is a compliance and risk-management measure aimed at strengthening taxpayer profiling, detecting potential tax evasion and supporting national anti-money laundering efforts.
Similar identification requirements already apply within the commercial banking sector.
FRCS encouraged the public to rely on official FRCS communication channels for accurate information and reiterated its commitment to clear and transparent public communication.
