By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General, Thomas Doe Nah has disclosed that the aim of the new LRA digital App tax payment scheme is intended to expand the government’s tax base above 500 million United States Dollars annually.
Over the past years, the Liberian government has not been able to raise revenue above this amount yearly, causing annual budgetary deficits.
The LRA boss was speaking on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at the Authority’s headquarters in the Monrovia suburb of Paynesville, when he officially launched a new application known as the LRA App to help make registration and payment of real property tax easier.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Commissioner General Doe Nah said that over the government cannot continue to survive on 500 million United States Dollars national budget.
He added that there is a possibility for the Liberia’s tax base to be expended, especially in tourism and other sectors that have not be tapped.
He claimed that there has been some inefficiency in the tax collection process and that is the reasons that they are working to make entire revenue base efficient in the country.
The LRA Commissioner General pointed out that is also considering the usage of drone in accessing property, if it is necessary so as to ensure the accurate collection of tax.
Performing the official launching ceremony, LRA Deputy Commissioner General Aaron Kollie disclosed that over 25,000 United States Dollars equipments have been purchased to decentralize the tax collection system in the country
The LRA App which can be down loaded on a smart phones from google play store, will also be used to acquire tax identification numbers and calculate taxes.
With the mobile app, taxpayers and the public will be able to identify genuine or fake LRA employees with option to file complaints against them or commend them for excellent services of the country’s revenue.
The LRA App is among several reform measures aimed at reforming tax collection and boost revenue growth to find national development.