Mobile phone users are required to pay a 20.3% tax on internet services and a 38% tax on regular voice calls, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has stated.<\/p>\n
This clarification was provided during a meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF).<\/p>\n
Committee Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva raised questions regarding the effective tax on consumers using prepaid mobile services.<\/p>\n
Addressing the inquiry, TRC Director Indrajith Handapangoda explained the structure of telecommunications levies.<\/p>\n
According to Handapangoda, internet usage is not subjected to the Telecommunication Levy, but consumers pay an effective tax of approximately 20.3% for data services. Meanwhile, voice services, including broadband-related voice facilities, are taxed at an effective rate of 38.4%.<\/p>\n
Dr. de Silva questioned how much of a Rs. 100 prepaid top-up a user could actually utilise if they engaged in both data and voice communication.<\/p>\n
Handapangoda reiterated that Rs. 100 is reduced by about 20.4% for data usage, while voice calls incur the higher 38.4% tax, and the effective amount available to the consumer ultimately depends on their individual usage pattern.<\/p>\n
Despite repeated questioning, a definitive single figure representing the usable value of a Rs. 100 prepaid recharge could not be provided by the TRC representative, as usage combinations vary between consumers.<\/p>\n
During the session, Parliamentarian Nimal Palihena also highlighted concerns regarding students facing difficulties due to inadequate mobile network coverage in certain areas, calling for urgent attention to the issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mobile phone users are required to pay a 20.3% tax on internet services and a 38% tax on regular voice calls, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadstories","category-local","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n