Very recently , a year long national campaign aiming to create awareness about tax under the theme “Discharging Obligation and Demanding One’s Rights,” was launched by the Minister of Revenue . Of course, no matter where we live, paying tax is an inescapable matter.
Taxes must be collected with a view to safeguarding peace and stability as well as bringing social justice and economic growth to a given country. Of course, a democratically elected government collects taxes and customs duty aiming to ensure equal wealth distribution in a legal and transparent manner. Under the Ethiopian context, paying customs duty and taxes is centuriesold practice.
But, fellow citizens’ have long- held wrong belief like paying one’s dues on time has been considered as one of the characteristics of those traders who have made profits only. On the other hand, it is the sheer fact that tax payers may hesitate to fulfill their obligation, if they think there are state officials that would manipulate the tax revenues for personal gains. In fact, tax revenue has been showing dramatic increase from time to time here in Ethiopia.
This is due to the reform that had been taken place in the Ministry of Revenues and the ever increasing number of high tax payers. Moreover, millions of civil servants and workers across the country have been paying income taxes properly. Indeed, this fiscal year, the nation is planning to collect 213 billion Birr from tax.
Therefore, if the plan is achieved, most of the allocated budget will be covered through collecting taxes. In Kermit (rainy season), as usual Ethiopian taxpayers pay their taxes as per schedule. But, in accordance to past experiences, there is a delay to pay tax due to various reasons. Commonly, many tax payers come to tax office at the eleventh hour of tax payment programme. This by itself will create inconvenience for those who collect and pay taxes as it causes office overcrowding and exposes clients to unnecessary expenses.
Apparently, starting from last December, a new tax campaign has been put into effect. But, the public misconceptions remain high in this regard. . Therefore, timely awareness creation campaigns have to be conducted with a view to putting an end the misconceptions about the new tax reform. Moreover, in a bid to finish the tax collection activities on time, tax offices across the country need to work on weekends and after working hours.
Above all, every fellow citizen needs a strong sense of honesty and integrity when she/he comes to paying and collecting taxes. A good and patriotic citizen is one that pays tax. Those who get involved in tax evasion must be ashamed of their act. They as well must be held accountable for such serious crime.
The Ministry of Revenues has to intensify its efforts of putting every individual engaged in any income generation activities in the tax bracket. In general, paying customs duty and taxes on time means that speeding up the ongoing Ethiopia’s renaissance journey and fulfilling one’s responsibility in realizing the nation’s goal of single economic community in the near future. Tax has never been a financial burden on responsible fellow citizens as they pay taxes in a timely and proper manner.
They as well strongly believe that tax revenues are the backbone of every social and economic activity in the country. Avoiding paying tax or attempting in any manner to evade any tax levied is punishable by law. Hence, paying customs duty and taxes have to be citizens’ priory of priorities.
The Ethiopian Herald, January 15/2019
