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.
No comments:
Post a Comment