Tax officials in collaboration with sub-national authorities will begin tax inspections on all means of transportation and vehicles for 2020 throughout the country by early next month.

The most recent yearly tax collection was completed on November 30 last year. It showed an increase compared to 2019 in both the number of vehicles taxed and total revenue from tax payment, according to General Department of Taxation (GDT) director-general Kong Vibol.

“If you haven’t paid your 2020 taxes on your vehicle yet please do so without delay, including the penalty for late payment. Payment can be made at the GDT, district and provincial tax offices as well as some banks branches,” the GDT said in an announcement.

Vibol said the increase in the number of tax payers compared to previous years reflects the gradual improvement of the civic culture from year to year.

As of December 31, he said the GDT had collected taxes on 733,549 vehicles, of which 76,994 were newly registered that year.

“In 2020, the revenue from taxes was 366,424,700,000 riel [$89 million], an increase of 36,026,300,000 riel from 2019, equal to 105.2 per cent. If we compare it to our revenue projections for 2020, it’s equal to 103.2 per cent,” he said.

Phnom Penh municipal traffic police bureau chief Sem Ratana told The Post that he had not yet received any instruction regarding vehicle tax inspections.

“The Department of Traffic Police and Public Order will assign officials to target locations in collaboration with tax officials to do this work. I will inform you as soon as I receive any instructions or information from the higher ups,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, a total of 5,680,000 vehicles are registered in Cambodia, including 936,000 cars.