The National Revenue Authority (NRA) hosted an interactive session with large taxpayers to address key issues hindering revenue collection and strategize ways to meet its ambitious projected target.
As the authority laid out its plans and expectations, discussions ranged from tax compliance regulations to addressing systemic challenges. The dialogue fostered an atmosphere of collaboration, allowing taxpayers to express their concerns, suggest improvements, and seek clarifications from NRA Staff.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ engagement held yesterday at the View City, Freetown City Council Freetown, NRA Commissioner General, Madam Jeneba Bangura said that the engagement is all geared about tax education and compliance regulations by large taxpayers to support the Authority in its revenue mobilizations drive for the state.
She further reminded the gathering that the Minister of Finance has revealed in last Friday Budget speech in Parliament that Government in the past ten months heavily depends on NRA revenue collections to run the affairs of the state.
The Commissioner General expressed gratitude to the taxpayers for their tax compliance to enable NRA surpasses its target January – June, 2024.
She spoke about the Finance Act and the various reforms they undertook in enhancing revenue generation for government to meet its development aspirations and provide essential social services to the people.
According to her, “there will be no new tax in 2025 but what are expected of taxpayers are tax compliance to enable NRA hit its target in revenue generation”.
The CG registered commitment to surmount challenges highlighted by the taxpayers notably ICT in accessing NRA systems for tax compliance.
NRA Commissioner, Customs, Tenneson Bio admonished the taxpayers to make prompt payment to the bank before 3PM so that their goods will be cleared on time without delay.
According to him, some agents selected by large taxpayers often failed to supply them with accurate information in tandem with the one in the ‘Asycuda’ system at custom.
Acting NRA Commissioner, Domestic Tax Department, Edwin Conteh disclosed that large taxpayers are crucial to their revenue mobilization as they contribute up to 20% of the total revenue generation.
He further expressed dissatisfaction to taxpayers that are not utilizing the Electronic Register Machines to generate Goods and Services Tax for NRA.
The climax of the engagement was a lively questions and answers session. The NRA representatives addressed these with a mix of empathy and firmness, highlighting the shared responsibility of meeting the nation’s financial goals.
By the end of the meeting, the session ended on a hopeful note, with taxpayers and the NRA reaffirming their commitment to a fair and productive partnership for national development.