Wednesday 22 February 2017

Optimizing revenue mobilization amid challenges:

Taxation officials upbeat about 2017 objective

Mopa Modeste Fatoing
The monthly coordination meeting of central and devolved services of the directorate general of taxation was held in Maroua from 16 to 18 February 2017
Holding in a context marked by a sustained drop in oil revenue, the entry into force of the Economic Partnership Accord EPA with the EU and an ever threatening security challenge in some parts of the country, taxation officials brainstormed and strategized on ways and means of meeting their 2017 objective which encumbers the Directorate General of Taxation to mobilize FCFA 1,843 billion that is, 1,719 billion of non-oil revenue and 124 billion from oil companies, for the financing of the 2017 state budget. It should be noted that in 2016 the DGT was tasked to mobilize a total of 1719 billion including the 150 billion from oil revenue.
                Admitting the uphill challenge, giving that the 2017 objective has witnessed an increase of 128 billion compared to that of 2016, taxation officials remained upbeat that if the new orientations and innovations put in place by the Minister of Finance, AlamineOusmaneMey and his colleagues of the CEMAC sub-region, are implemented to the letter then there is no reason they should not attain the 2017 objective and even surpass it.
                It should be noted that in 2016 the taxation department mobilized some 1,585 billion of non-oil revenue, surpassing the set objective of 1,565 billion, a net realization of 101.3%.
                Also worthy of note is the fact that while the 2016 performance was remarkable for non-oil revenue, it was not the case for oil revenue, where just 109 billion was mobilized of the 150 billion that was expected.
                Taxation officials attributed the exceptional realization of the non-oil tax mobilization on the strict application of the modernization plan contained in the 2016 finance law which highlights such measures as: broadening of the tax base, improved working environments, more dialogue with taxpayers, better risk management, team spirit, better securization of receipts, automation of procedures among others.

                They also noted with satisfaction the success especially of the e-filing of tax returns and the payments of taxes by mobile phones and by bank transfers. They pledged to keep these up if they must maintain or even improve on the remarkable performance of last year.
                Officials also resolved to consolidate positive policy reforms, improve yield on petroleum tax, excise duties and VAT on furnished rentals and tourist tax. They also underscored the optimization of revenue from the application of prices in the mercurial.
                The Maroua conclave also gave opportunity to taxation officials to hold talks with some socio-professional groups in North Cameroon and also meet with local administrative authorities with a view to urge them to support local taxation services towards improved performance.
                Participants noted with satisfaction the tax incentives granted to disaster-stricken zones (notably the Boko Haram infested Far North) and Accredited Management Centres CGAs, by the head of state.
                The 1st coordination meeting came on the heels of the annual conference of the Ministry of Finance’s central and external services, which was held under the theme "Optimizing tax revenue mobilisation, preserving the viability and sustainability of public debt"; and the CEMAC Summit of heads of state which urged tax administrations to broaden the tax base in order to improve returns and pre-empt austerity.



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