The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has been granted enhanced authority to take immediate action against individuals evading tax payments by withholding their bank accounts.Under the revised Rules on Seizure of Funds in Bank Accounts, MIRA can now seize funds from the accounts of tax evaders under specific conditions, thereby eliminating the previous 60-day waiting period. This amendment allows MIRA to act promptly upon issuing the necessary notices.Furthermore, the notice period for tax evaders has been reduced from two 30-day notices to a single 15-day notice. The timeline for advancing to the next stage after disclosing the names of non-payers has also been shortened from 15 days to just five.MIRA’s Assistant Commissioner General of Enforcement Fathmath Ameeza emphasized that the amendment is not intended to result in immediate account freezes but to ensure adherence to the law. Taxpayers will be contacted first to resolve any outstanding issues.The new regulations also introduce significant concessions for taxpayers. MIRA has established a system for the automatic deduction of owed amounts for individuals who have not fulfilled their tax obligations, ensuring that no punitive action will be taken against them for non-payment. However, should substantial tax debts persist, the agency will pursue recovery measures.