The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) waived or wrote off $184.6 million in tax penalties during the 2024-2025 financial year, according to its annual report tabled in Parliament on Friday.
The report states that $184,556,648 in penalties was waived or written off for the year ended 31 July 2025, an increase of more than $75 million compared to the $109,513,509 waived during the previous financial year.
According to FRCS, the withdrawals were made in accordance with Section 48(7) of the Tax Administration Act and Section 34 of the Financial Management Act 2004.
The annual report also reveals that total government debtor arrears stood at $495.39 million as at 31 July 2025.
The largest share comprised Income Tax and Other Taxes, amounting to $280.29 million, followed by Value Added Tax (VAT) arrears of $181.95 million. Other outstanding debts included MSME loans of $30.79 million and Customs arrears of $2.35 million.
FRCS noted that the arrears figures include penalties that may be waived as well as balances that are subject to dispute by taxpayers.
The report further states that during the financial year, responsibility for the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS) and Public Service Commission (PSC) loan portfolios was transferred to the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS), resulting in those balances no longer being reflected under FRCS debtors.
The figures are contained in the 2024-2025 FRCS Annual Report, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday.
