Papua New Guinea’s primary industries sector is seeking an urgent update on outstanding Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds and tax credits, with some major businesses reportedly still awaiting payments dating back to 2018, 2019 and 2020.
The Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association (HFSA), led by President Wilson Thompson, OBE, ML, has issued a circular asking members for details of their tax returns and most recent refunds.
The association has previously raised the issue with the Chief Secretary, Secretary for Treasury and the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) Commissioner General, including during discussions around the 2025 Budget Lockup.
According to the September 6, 2026 circular, HFSA first wrote to the IRC on December 2, 2024, before following up with the Acting Commissioner General, who provided figures on tax refunds. However, information from members indicates that several businesses have yet to receive outstanding refunds.
HFSA is now seeking to reconcile member records with those held by the IRC. Businesses have been asked to provide their Taxpayer Identification Numbers, dates of their latest GST, Salary and Wages Tax and Corporate Income Tax returns, and the month in which their last GST refund was paid or credited.
The request spans a broad range of primary industries, underscoring the potential scale of the issue across agricultural production, processing, exports, livestock and related services.
Industries identified include oil palm, rubber, coconut, cocoa, coffee, livestock, horticulture and fresh produce, grains and rice, as well as farm supply and service companies. Listed businesses include Hargy Plantations, Ramu Agri Industries, Agmark NGIP, Outspan, PNG Coffee Exports, Olam International, Mainland Holdings, Trukai Industries, Goodman Fielder and Chemica, among others.
Provincial and industry organisations, including Morobe Resource Holdings, HFSA and the Poultry Industry Association, are also covered by the circular.
GST refunds can directly affect cash flow, particularly for export-oriented and capital-intensive businesses. For primary producers and processors, delayed tax credits can tie up working capital needed for operations, inputs, suppliers and expansion.
The matter therefore extends beyond tax administration, with implications for investment, business liquidity and the wider performance of PNG’s agriculture and primary production sectors.
HFSA said member information would be treated confidentially and provided to the IRC to obtain an updated position from its records. Members have been asked to respond by September 15, 2026, with individual updates to follow.
The circular has been copied to senior government agencies and officials, including the Chief Secretary, Secretary for Treasury, Department of Commerce and Industry, IRC Commissioner General, and the Secretaries for Agriculture and Livestock and International Trade and Investment.
The initiative reflects continued private-sector engagement with government on tax administration issues. Resolving long-standing GST refund claims could strengthen working capital and improve confidence in the tax system across PNG’s agriculture and resource-based business community.
