The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) reported USD 137.55 million in revenue for August, exceeding projections by 3.1 percent and marking a 6.9 percent increase over the same period last year.
Collections were buoyed by gains in the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (T-GST) and the Green Tax, both of which saw marked increases. Airport Development Fees and Departure Taxes also contributed significantly to the month’s total, according to MIRA.
The rise in tourism-related income coincided with an 11.5 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared with August 2024. Adjustments to fiscal policy added to the upward trend: the Green Tax was raised in January 2025, and the Airport Development Fee was revised in December 2024.
Revenue sources extended beyond tourism. MIRA cited in its report higher receipts from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fees, along with payments for prior tax periods, which accounted for 22.9 percent of August’s collections. An additional 9 percent was recovered through enforcement actions targeting outstanding dues.
A breakdown of the revenue composition shows the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the largest contributor, generating USD 75.25 million. Income Tax followed with USD 15.61 million, while the Green Tax brought in USD 12.40 million.
Airport Development Fees totalled USD 10.70 million, Departure Tax reached USD 10.54 million, and Work Permit Fees added USD 4.12 million. MIRA confirmed that USD 89.04 million of the total revenue was denominated in US dollars.