Friday 03 / May / 2024
Muscat: Expatriates in Oman welcomed the statement made by Central Bank of Oman (CBO) Chief Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali’s on expat remittance tax.
Read here/ Expat remittance tax: Oman's Central Bank boss speaks out
Al Zadjali said there are no plans to impose a tax on expatriates’ remittances.
Javed Sheikh, a Pakistani businessman living in Oman, said: “This is actually good news for expats, no remittance tax means people from our community can send more money to our home country and help provide for their families living back home, because a lot of them are living here, but have families back home as they do not earn enough to bring their families here. It is a good decision and we are grateful for what Oman is doing.”
According to Maaz Firdous, a consultant at Al Iskaan Engineering Consultancy, if such a tax is levied it would affect people with low income dramatically and unnecessarily increase their problems. “
Read also: New investment law to be more liberal and flexible, says Central Bank of Oman Chief
If applied, the tax would become a major source of trouble for workers who want to earn less. These are the people, who according to Omani law, can’t keep their families in Oman and therefore send most of their money back home. Taxing them isn’t the right thing to do anyway.”
He added that taxes should be imposed on people earning higher incomes, instead of bothering people who are struggling to earn a living.
Deepal Pallegangoda, country manager of SriLankan Airlines in Muscat, said Oman needs expats. “Now many people will prefer to stay in this country, as we all love Oman,” he said.
