November 24: The government on Wednesday honoured the top taxpayers of the country among whom Surya Nepal Private Limited was declared the highest taxpayer company for the last fiscal year.

Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar honored Surya Nepal amid a programme organized by the Inland Revenue Department in the capital to mark the National Tax Day 2022. The government honored individuals and organizations under 15 different categories.

According to the IRD, Surya Nepal paid taxes worth Rs 10.72 billion in the Fiscal Year 2021/22, up from Rs 9.34 billion in the previous fiscal year. The annual turnover of the multinational company in 2021 was about Rs 24.5 billion.

According to the rating agency Care Rating Nepal, Surya Nepal earned a net profit of Rs 9.41 billion in 2021 and Rs 9.55 billion in 2020. The company, which has a large share in the cigarette trade of Nepal, did business worth Rs 24 billion 493 million during the review year. It also sells matchboxes, incense sticks and confectionaries.

Likewise, Vijaya Shah of Jawalakhel Group of Industries received recognition as the largest taxpayer in individual category in the last fiscal year. Shah leads the group of industries, which incorporates companies like Jawalakhel Distillery, Vijay Distillery, Himalayan Distillery, Raj Brewery and Asian Distillery. 

Similarly, Nepal Telecom bagged the award of the largest income taxpayer.

OBC Foods received the honours as the highest taxpayer in agriculture category while export-based companies Shiva Shakti Ghee and Rajesh Metal Crafts were recognized for the contribution to the state treasury in their respective category.

Nabil Bank also received the award in the banking sector while IME Remittance from remittance group and Chhimek Microfinance Company from cooperative group were also among those honoured by the government for the contribution.