As domestic gold prices continue to climb, the military junta has ordered all gold traders, jewelry shops, and gem dealers to use new official sales vouchers issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation instead of their previously used shop vouchers, according to gold business owners.
The directive states that all licensed gold and jewelry shops must use the officially designated vouchers for gold bar and jewelry sales. Any transactions conducted with other types of vouchers will be considered illegal.
A gold industry expert told the Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) that these new vouchers must be regularly submitted to tax offices, a move aimed at tightening control over the gold market and preventing tax evasion among traders.
“It mainly applies to shops that already have official licenses. There are still many that operate without one, but the order doesn’t apply to them immediately. The main purpose is to ensure taxes are properly paid and prevent tax evasion,” said the expert.
In addition, the junta has imposed stricter requirements for gold traders to obtain official licenses for conducting gold trading and refining services.
The newly introduced official gold trading voucher requires shop owners to fill out detailed information, including the shop name, buyer and seller names, identification numbers, and addresses.
According to the junta-controlled Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, all gold sales must follow the daily reference price set by the authorities. Violations of these regulations will result in penalties or legal action, the ministry warned.
