Travel agency suspends commercial flights in Bor over high tax

Padak Travel Agency has suspended commercial flight operations in Bor town in Jonglei state until further notice, citing high tax and harassment.

Padak Travel Agency has suspended commercial flight operations in Bor town in Jonglei state until further notice, citing high tax and harassment.

Daniel Deng, the travel agency’s branch manager in Bor, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that all travel agents will stop work starting from 23 December until the issue is resolved.

Deng pointed out that the directorate of taxation in the national finance ministry taxes 2, 850 SSP per a ticket, adding some of their agents were arrested by police but they were later released.

The deputy director for Bor airport, Barach Ajak confirmed the development but said negotiations are underway between government authorities and travel agencies.

For his part, Adil Paul, the director for taxation in the national finance ministry denied the claims made by the airline companies, saying the government is implementing provisions on the taxation Act.

“The problem of those companies is that they want to operate without paying taxes. We will not leave them. They must pay,” he said.

Adil revealed that his administration has already sued two airline companies over tax evasion.