The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) recovered MVR 543 million in outstanding taxes and other state dues in April 2026, reflecting continued efforts to strengthen public revenue collection and improve compliance across the country’s tax system. According to the authority’s financial report for the month, the amount was recovered through a combination of notices, dues clearance processes, instalment agreements, reminder phone calls, and enforcement action carried out under MIRA’s compliance policy. The authority stated that substantial sums remain unpaid to the state and that extensive work is continuing to secure the recovery of overdue public revenue through structured and consistent compliance measures.
Of the total amount recovered during the month, MVR 372 million was collected through notices issued to taxpayers, making it the largest single recovery channel. A further MVR 96 million was recovered through dues clearance procedures, while MVR 64 million came through instalment agreements that enabled taxpayers to settle liabilities over time. Reminder calls contributed MVR 5 million, and enforcement action resulted in the recovery of MVR 4 million. MIRA said stronger enforcement measures are helping improve the collection of both tax and non-tax revenue, supporting broader fiscal stability and reinforcing the importance of timely compliance in sustaining national development.
As part of its compliance efforts during the month, MIRA also published the names of 48 entities that had failed to submit income tax returns, covering both corporate and individual filings. The disclosure was made under the authority’s policy of naming non-compliant taxpayers and included entities that had not filed returns up to December 2024. The move reflects MIRA’s continued emphasis on accountability, transparency, and the importance of meeting tax obligations within the required deadlines.
Overall revenue collected by MIRA in April 2026 stood at MVR 2.63 billion. This was 16.6 percent higher than the amount projected for the month, indicating a stronger-than-expected performance despite some year-on-year moderation. Compared with April 2025, total revenue was marginally lower by 0.3 percent. MIRA attributed the stronger-than-forecast outcome to higher collections from tourism land rent, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and work permit fees, which helped offset weaker performance in some other revenue categories. The authority also noted that 32.6 percent of total revenue in April came from overdue payments, while 14.2 percent was specifically generated through the recovery of outstanding dues, highlighting the growing importance of compliance-based collections in the overall revenue structure.
GST remained the largest source of revenue during the month, contributing 63.6 percent of total collections, or MVR 1.7 billion. Other major revenue streams included Green Tax at MVR 185 million, Income Tax at MVR 178 million, Airport Development Fee at MVR 152 million, Departure Tax at MVR 152 million, and Resort Rent at MVR 129 million. Total revenue for the month also included USD 121 million collected in foreign currency, underlining the continued significance of international and tourism-linked economic activity to the Maldivian economy.
MIRA noted that total revenue for April was slightly lower than in the same month last year mainly because of reduced collections from tourism-related GST, green tax, airport taxes, and other associated fees. The authority reported that tourist arrivals in April 2026 declined by 19.8 percent compared with April 2025, which had a direct impact on revenue generated from the tourism sector. Collections from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fees also fell on a year-on-year basis. Even so, the figures continue to demonstrate the central role of tourism in the Maldives’ public finances, with resort-related contributions remaining among the most important revenue pillars for the state.
The performance of resort rent and other tourism-linked revenue streams remains especially significant in the Maldivian context, where the hospitality industry continues to serve as a leading driver of economic activity, foreign exchange earnings, employment, and investor confidence. Revenue generated from resorts reflects not only accommodation demand, but also the wider value created by destination development, infrastructure use, guest services, international travel flows, and associated economic transactions across the islands. While April recorded a year-on-year decline in visitor arrivals, the continued contribution from resort rent and tourism-related taxes demonstrates the resilience and enduring international relevance of the Maldives’ resort industry. For global readers and investors observing the country’s economic outlook, the April revenue figures illustrate both the sensitivity of public revenue to tourism performance and the government’s ongoing capacity to reinforce collections through effective tax administration.
The latest figures also reflect a broader institutional effort to maintain sound revenue management during changing market conditions. Through a combination of compliance monitoring, structured recovery mechanisms, and improved enforcement, MIRA continues to play a central role in safeguarding state revenue and supporting fiscal sustainability. The April outcome shows that even amid softer tourism-related inflows compared with the same period last year, the Maldives is continuing to strengthen its domestic revenue framework and uphold the systems needed to support public services, national development priorities, and long-term economic confidence.
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