Remittances by expatriate workers in 2015 surpassed the OMR4bn mark for the first time, according to the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). Money transfers via the remittance route climbed 6.7% to OMR4.226bn last year, up from OMR3.961bn a year earlier. The Y-o-Y increase in money transfers has played out in trend with the growth in the size of Oman's expatriate population. Two years ago, recommendations by an advisory panel of the Majlis Ash'shura to tax expatriate remittances failed to gain traction when the proposal was floated. The panel had mooted a 2% tax on remittances as part of wider efforts to shore up government revenues and plug budgetary deficits. (Oman Observer)