President Ndayishimiye reiterates his determination to fight corruption, fraud and tax evasion

2023-12-06 09:25:29

The theme chosen for this year is: “Let’s use modern online declaration and payment technology, let’s support the development of the country”.

The Commissioner General of the Burundian Revenue Office (OBR), Jean Claude Manirakiza, in his speech indicated that Burundi emerging in 2040 and developed in 2060 would only be achieved if all Burundian workers in general and those in the The OBR in particular are changing their old working habits and putting forward new innovative technology, and for the OBR, teledeclaration, telepayment and electronic invoicing. This will put an end to the various challenges linked to the security and transparency of collected revenue.

Thanks to the use of the new technology of electronic declaration and electronic payment from the month of August, the revenue collected by the OBR increased: 185.7 billion compared to 172.3 which were forecast for the month of August, i.e. 107%; 165.1 billion against 163 which were planned for the month of October, or 101% and 157.5 billion against 138.3 which were planned, or 113.8% for the month of November. He declared that 2,939 large and medium-sized taxpayers were until the end of November only affected by this technology, the others will gradually be served.

Despite the remarkable progress recorded in the collection of taxes, some taxpayers are reluctant to use the new technology adopted, embezzlement of taxes recorded among certain OBR workers and corrupt workers who facilitate the tax evasion, difficulties in collecting rental taxes in markets, etc., deplored the General Commissioner.

For his part, the Minister in charge of Public Finance indicated that the celebration of Taxpayer’s Day for the 8th edition is taking place at a time when revenues have increased compared to the year 2022 and the discontent between the OBR and taxpayers have decreased following the use of the new technology of electronic declaration, electronic payment and electronic invoicing.

In his speech for the occasion, the President of the Republic His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye recalled that Burundi has begun a merciless fight against the enemy of development, namely all those who prevent and slow down economic takeoff through fraud, evasion tax, corruption and all forms of embezzlement. He thus called on the entire population to lead this fight of which he himself is the Supreme Commander.

In this zero tolerance against corruption, fraud, tax evasion and economic embezzlement, particular attention will be focused on the digitalization of all services likely to increase the country’s economy to achieve the vision of emerging Burundi in 2040 and developed in 2060, a National Digitalization Committee will very soon be set up as well as a law on digitalization, revealed the Head of State.

Returning to certain challenges linked in particular to insufficient electricity and poor quality of the Internet, the Head of State reassured that these issues are close to his heart: “Additional efforts will be made to resolve all these problems,” he reassured, and to ask taxpayers to contribute in the energy sector.

Before closing his speech, the Father of the Nation once again warned economic saboteurs that no tolerance will be reserved for them. He instructed the OBR to organize monthly meetings with the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss all issues and to regularly transmit the related reports to his cabinet so that the conclusions are known and taken into consideration.

The Presidency