LRA Honors Several Tax Payers

By Edwin G. Wandah
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) yesterday honored several taxpayers in the country.
Individuals and businesses including government agencies received various kinds of honors inclusive of the following different categories; gold, silver and bronze; all of these three top honors went to Orange Liberia Inc (Gold), Arcelor MITTAL, Liberia (Silver) and Monrovia Breweries Inc. (Bronze).
Other categories of awards were, the Most Compliant in the Large Tax Division going to APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, Most Compliant in Natural Resources Tax Division awarded to Firestone Natural Rubber Plantation-Liberia and Most Compliant Medium and Small Tax Divisions awarded to Kpassakoi Trading Corporation and John Building Materials Center.
For the Most Compliant in the Petty Trader Division, Kumba Joseph Business Center came first as highest, while, Total-Liberia Inc. received the award in the Most Compliant Taxpayer in the eFiling User, followed by DHL International, Adeline Morris, Dr. Henrique F. Tokpa and Mr. Barry Bobadjogo, Most Compliant in the Direct Transfer User, Highest Contributors, Real Property for Industrial and Real Property Residential and Vacant Land respectively.
Total-Liberia also won the category in the Highest Real Property Commercial. A.M. Bah from Bomi County, Falibina Inc. from Grand Cape Mount County, Save the People Restaurant in Gbapolu County and the Green Pasture Funeral Services Inc. all stood tall as they all walked away with smiles as highest contributors in the Domestic tax section.
Nimba County won two distinct awards, contributing the highest revenue collection at the Loguatou Boarder for the category of Land Border and the Ganta; the Most Compliant Custom Brokers went to Snokri Incorporated and Monetel Incorporated respectively. Again, Mississippi Inc. in Nimba walked away with the highest Contributor (TBO). UN Drive Super Market came second to Bridgeway Corporation for the highest importers; while, Petro Trade, T.D. Joseph & Associates, A-Z Corporation, Pan African Consultancy, Fresh Frozen Food, Black and White Entertainment in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County and Jesus Power Business Center all walked away with awards as Highest Contributors in various capacities.
Meanwhile, the LRA gave the highest honor of the institution to its former LRA boss, Alfreda Stewart Tamba in appreciation for setting the pace by which the LRA is moving.
The occasion which was marked by lots of excitement had a host of senior government officials including the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia Yusuf Kabah, Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah.
Earlier, the Commissioner General of the LRA, Thomas Doe Nah, expressed satisfaction over the level of working relation they have had over the years with taxpayers.
Mr. Doe-Nah further said last night was the third awards event for individuals and companies who have paid taxes and called on others to follow suit. He warned those who are lingering behind and do not want to pay their taxes to do so urgently as according to him, anyone refusing to pay their taxes will be dealt with under the law.
He called on the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Government to assist them in the process as violators could be numerous. The Assistant Commissioner for Risk Manager at the LRA, Nyankor Matthew, praised the LRA team for making some gains over the years.
Although, she did not rule out the challenges faced by the LRA, she said some of those challenges are being considered and that the LRA is working exceedingly to tackle them pointing out that at least the LRA’s external resources for the fiscal year 2017/2018 was at US$ 41.5 million.
According to her, currently the LRA had raised US$ 468.7million which had given the Government of Liberia some relief to deliver on some of its fiscal policies.
The Assistant Commissioner for Risk Management then recognized those businesses and individuals that have remained committed to making their lawful contributions by paying their taxes for nation building and urged others to emulate the good examples of the honorees.
Both USAID Chief of Mission, Anthony Chan and the Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweh, in separate remarks called for a more transparent process wherein businesses and individuals are free to pay their taxes.
Finance Minister Tweh said the budget is heavily dependent on domestic revenues but frowned on those who will not pay their taxes assuring the LRA boss of government’s support in clamping down on those who will refuse to pay their taxes.
Commerce Minister Professor Wilson Tarpeh also assured the LRA boss of his Ministry’s support in providing those needed assistance.
Meanwhile, in her response, the former LRA boss thanked the LRA Commissioner General for remembering her and giving her flowers. She assured the LRA team that she is ready to offer any assistance whenever called upon.