PHNOM PENH: Cambodia will start collecting taxes from online commerce in 2022. Major foreign companies doing business online, such as Facebook and Netflix, have registered with the General Department of Taxation to apply for value-added tax (VAT).

Kong Vibol, Minister Delegate Director-General of the General Department of Taxation, said in a special program on income tax and recent events of the General Department of Taxation that from the 1st April 2022, onwards, the General Department of Taxation will start applying taxes to online businesses such as Facebook, Netflix, etc. He said that taxation officials have already received applications for registration from these companies, but due to the lack of preparation, the company asked for a three-month extension.

However, Cambodia has not yet been able to forecast revenue from online commerce. Mr. Kong Vibol stated that only the establishment of an Internet Gateway to manage and strengthen the collection of taxes from e-commerce effectively to know the specific revenue from this sector.

The General Department of Taxation emphasizes that non-resident taxpayers who supply digital goods or digital services electronically or for all e-commerce activities entering Cambodia must complete the Simplified VAT Registration. Before April 1, 2022.

In case the non-resident taxpayer does not register or does not come to update the information or does not submit the declaration and pay the value-added tax to the General Department of Taxation in time, he shall be punished as stated in the law and the law.

Facebook and Netflix have been making money in Cambodia for many years without paying taxes to the Royal Government while millions of Cambodians are using this system.