There are enough laws out there, what is badly needed is enforcement of these laws. For example, although it is a requirement for businesses to print out a receipt for all transactions, there are many establishments that do not even have a cash register. Instead, items are added up on a hand held calculator: no record.
How are these businesses reporting their sales to the government? How does the government confirm the amount of sales?
There are many other transactions being done without any record keeping — cash basis. How much is not being collected by the government in taxes due to no records or under reporting?
I do not have confirmation but I hear that fees from the poker machines are being under reported. It is my understanding that there are supposed to be two sets of locks per machine so that reporting is confirmed by the government. Is this being done?
Please consider enforcing the laws before increasing any of the taxes. Please make a concerted effort for six months and let us see the difference. By the way, increasing business licenses is not a solution at all but rather only adds grease to an already very, very slippery road to economic recovery.
EFRAIN F. CAMACHO
Navy Hill, Saipan
