Super Value’s owner has slammed the proposed sanctions regime for delinquent Value-Added Tax (VAT) payers as “very distasteful”, fearing just one mistake by staff could result in his jailing or loss of passport.
Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business that the Government “should never have been allowed” to propose travel restrictions for the owners of companies behind on their VAT payments, describing this as “very wrong”.
Suggesting that companies, and their proprietors, were exposed to punishment even for ‘honest mistakes’, Mr Roberts said just the administrative/compliance costs associated with VAT alone would increase living costs by 5 per cent.
He added that Super Value would “really have to crank up some additional costs” to meet the proposed ’21 days after month’s end’ deadline for filing, and paying, VAT returns to the Government.
Implying that it would be impossible for the 10–store chain, and his three Quality Supermarkets outlets, to meet that timeframe since it often took 30 days to compile accurate monthly sales figures, Mr Roberts contrasted the demands on the private sector with the 60-days the Government is allowing itself to provide VAT refunds.
The Super Value owner warned that consumers “will revolt” over cost of living increases if the Government went through with its VAT plans, adding that he felt the planned July 1, 2014, implementation date cannot be met.
Reiterating that there were “many, many alternatives” to VAT, Mr Roberts said he remained optimistic that dialogue between the Government and the private sector would ultimately lead to a different revenue option being selected.
“The whole private sector is against VAT. The country doesn’t want VAT; nobody wants VAT,” Mr Roberts told Tribune Business. “I haven’t come across anybody yet that wants VAT, or would be satisfied with the implementation of VAT.
