President George Weah has officially launched the Liberia Revenue Authority’s (LRA) second National Symposium aimed at increasing tax compliance in the country.
The Revenue Symposium and the Taxpayers Appreciation Week held under the theme: “Moving to Billions: Increase Tax Compliance for National Transformation” is ongoing at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
LRA’s Commissioner, Thomas Doe Nah said the forum allows stakeholders to have a conversation on the strategic steps and guidance that will lead to sustainable mobilization of domestic revenue and called all individuals and businesses that are non-tax compliant to join the happy taxpayers that are contributing to Liberia’s transformation.
In his overview of the program, Commissioner Nah stressed that the national symposium is happening at a time when the Government of Liberia has set an expansionary revenue strategy that seeks continual year on year growth as the nation moves to billions target.
Commissioner Nah maintained that domestic resource mobilization is the hinge that supports the Pro-poor Agenda, and the medium for financing domestic investment and socio-economic programs that are critical to national transformation and poverty eradication.
“The Symposium also creates a platform for interrogating existing ideals on digitalization while we seek innovative solutions to tax administration and service delivery,” commissioner Nah further explained.
He revealed that with the advent of COVID-19 the LRA took numerous steps to limit human interactions and advance into the digital space noting, “Our digital ecosystem points to many modes of payment, efiling, eTax clearance, electronic fiscal devices, excise stamps control, receipts verification, customs simplified customs declaration, e-tariffs platform and importantly a soon to be introduced Integrated Tax Administration system.”
“We can safely say we are surfing a digital wave. But in the digital space there are no absolutes so galvanizing ideas as we intend to do today will help strengthen our digital aspiration,” he expressed.
He continued that, “But this tax appreciation week is also for the celebration of taxpayers that have complied with the payment of legitimate taxes. We are grateful for the immense contribution as taxes are the foundation on which we all stand.”
“Your Excellency Mr. President, with your guidance and support, the Liberia Revenue Authority takes this week to celebrate our taxpayers and conduct other activities that are critical for domestic resource mobilization,” Nah informed the President.
“We will dedicate a One-stop Shop within the ministerial complex on the ground floor of the Civil Service Agency, adding that on Friday we will converge at the National Police Training Academy to witness the graduation of 60 customs officers,” he added.
Meanwhile, President George Weah said plans by LRA to expand its revenue mobilization to hit billion United States dollar is worth commendation and expressed joy in the work and innovation that Commissioner Nah brings to the task.
The Liberian Chief Executive said he is pleased with the LRA’s administrative and policy actions, which among other things; intend to create robust reforms towards expanding and sustaining the revenue collections at billion dollars soon.
He commended the LRA for being up to the task of increasing domestic resources, guided by the Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy that was approved by the government in November of 2018.
Officially launching the second National Revenue Symposium, the Liberian leader said the improvement in the country’s domestic revenue efforts is largely attributable to the compliance level of LRA and the tax payers; thereby recognizing the LRA for its steadfast commitment in the face of many challenges and difficulties.
The Liberian leader assured government’s commitment in supporting reform efforts that make tax payment accessible and convenient emphasizing, “We will continue our consultations with the LRA, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and other stakeholders, to ensure that those who do not pay their fair share of taxes are made to pay.”
“We will continue to support digital reforms in tax administration, as the gains made since the intrusion of COVID 19 require that we conduct tax collection with increased commitment to efficiency and innovation,” Pres. Weah assured.
Adding, “We are also committed to supporting further reform efforts that will ensure continuous growth in domestic revenues, thereby enabling us as a Government to improve service delivery to our citizens”.
The celebration is expected to climax on December 15 in Kakata, Margibi County with the launch of the Real Property Tax Expansion Pilot Project, a pilot that is monumental and historical in the LRA’s existence because it opens the door for counties to retain a share of revenue collected from real property in consonance with the Local Government Act.
As the LRA celebrates tax-payers’ week, it has also announced that after increasing the national envelope from over US$500m to little over US$700m, it is working on several mechanisms aimed at improving tax mobilization strategy to further increase to billion and maintain the strategy.
It can be recalled that the LRA on its Taxpayers Appreciation Day in July 2019, honored Orange Liberia Inc. as the ‘Highest Contributor’ to Domestic Tax during the 2017/2018 fiscal year.
ArcelorMittal Liberia and the Monrovia Breweries Inc. were also honored as the second and third ‘Highest Contributor’ to Domestic Tax during the same period.