Aizawl: HC Lalthawmliana, executive member (EM) for taxation in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), stated on Tuesday that the council’s taxation department is intensifying measures to curb illegal cross-border trade, primarily from Myanmar, in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district.
Meeting with Merchants Association
Addressing a meeting with representatives of the Lawngtlai District Merchants Association (LDMA), Lalthawmliana announced that additional taxation check gates and more police beat posts are being established to prevent illegal trading and tax evasion.
He emphasized that blocking unauthorized foreign trade at Mizoram-Myanmar border entry points would eliminate unregulated commerce and “highly benefit the trading community of the district.” He appealed for cooperation from the LDMA in these efforts.
Call for GST Registration
Lalthawmliana also urged traders to register under the Goods & Services Tax (GST), stating that compliance would help “do away with malpractices in border trade and trading inside the district.” He noted that GST registration would curb the use of fake documents, prevent tax evasion, and benefit both the government and local residents.
Background of Cross-Border Trade
Unregulated movement of commodities, including fuel, has persisted into Myanmar’s southern Chin state. Since the February 1, 2021 military coup, Chin and Rakhine states have been cut off from mainland Myanmar, making Lawngtlai and adjoining Siaha districts key supply routes into western Myanmar, even though the trade remains unofficial and illegal.
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