What is the Tax Amnesty?
The Finance Bill 2083/84 introduces landmark tax relief provisions — the most significant amnesty for Nepal businesses in recent memory. If you have outstanding taxes for Income Tax, VAT, or Excise Duties, the government offers a clear path: pay the principal (plus a small 1% surcharge), and all accumulated interest, additional fees, and penalties are wiped clean.
Provision 1 — General Waiver: Pay Principal, Forget the Interest
The most significant relief covers Income Tax, VAT, and Excise Duties with outstanding balances filed or due by Jestha 15, 2083.
Steps
Provision 2 — Court & Tribunal Disputes: Settle Out of Court
If you have a tax case pending in the Revenue Tribunal, Supreme Court, or other judicial bodies, the Finance Bill gives you a one-time opportunity to end the legal battle.
Steps
Provision 3 — Inactive PAN Registrations: Cancel or Resume
Business owners with inactive PANs — those that have not filed returns since FY 2081/82 — have two options:
Your options
- To cancel your PAN: Apply for cancellation by Poush end 2083 after paying only the tax for FY 2082/83. You will not be asked for older, missing returns.
- To resume your business: Pay the FY 2082/83 tax and restart without liability for older gaps.
- Automatic cleanup: If no action is taken by the deadline, inactive PANs will be automatically cancelled — you lose the choice of resuming on your own terms.
- Never had a PAN? Apply for a PAN, file and pay for FY 2079/80 through 2082/83 by the deadline, and all prior years are fully excused.
Provision 4 — Civil Unrest Losses (Gen-Z Movement)
Businesses that suffered uninsured losses during the Gen-Z movement receive specific relief:
Relief items
- Damaged, uninsured stock can be claimed as a tax-deductible expense for the current year
- VAT already paid on lost items can be claimed as input tax credit — provided the damage has been reported to the local Inland Revenue Office with a proper assessment
- Star hotels that were damaged may import replacement materials duty-free (one-time)
- Casinos unable to operate during the unrest can receive a waiver on royalties and renewal fees for that period
Provision 5 — Customs Duty & Post-Clearance Audits
For businesses with unpaid duties identified during customs checks or post-clearance audits:
Steps
Provision 6 — "Old World" Taxes: Automatic Cancellation
The Finance Bill officially removes outstanding arrears from taxes that no longer exist:
Cancelled taxes
| Tax type | Status |
|---|---|
| Hotel Tax | Cancelled |
| Entertainment Tax | Cancelled |
| Sales Tax (pre-VAT) | Cancelled |
| Income Tax Act 2031 arrears (inactive entities) | Cancelled |
How to Claim Your Waiver — Step by Step
To ensure your waiver is processed correctly, follow these steps before the deadline:
Quick Reference — All Provisions at a Glance
| Provision | Who it applies to | Required action | Deadline | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General waiver | Income Tax / VAT / Excise arrears filed by Jestha 15, 2083 | Pay principal + 1% | Poush end 2083 | All interest, fees & penalties cancelled |
| Court/tribunal disputes | Cases at Revenue Tribunal or Supreme Court | Withdraw + pay disputed tax + 1% | Poush end 2083 | Govt withdraws appeals; all fines waived |
| Inactive PAN — cancel | No filing since FY 2081/82 | Apply for cancellation + pay FY 2082/83 tax | Poush end 2083 | Clean exit; no back-year liability |
| Inactive PAN — resume | Same as above, wanting to continue | Pay FY 2082/83 tax | Poush end 2083 | Resume without liability for older gaps |
| Unregistered taxpayer | Taxable income but no PAN | Get PAN + file & pay FY 2079/80–2082/83 | Poush end 2083 | All pre-2079/80 years fully excused |
| Customs audit duties | Post-clearance audit assessments | Pay duty + VAT + excise from assessments | Poush end 2083 | All penalties & interest waived |
| Old-world taxes | Hotel/Entertainment/Sales Tax arrears | None — automatic | Automatic | Arrears cancelled from record |