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The Ministry of Finance has recognized 200 taxpayers selected in three categories, platinum, gold and silver levels, for their loyalty in paying taxes. The recognition took place on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at the premises of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Consequently, 20 platinum level, 60 gold level and 120 silver level contributors were recognized at the ceremony.
The second of its kind in the country, this recognition aims to encourage more taxpayers to pay their taxes fairly on time and improve tax compliance. Presenting the certificates and plaques of recognition to selected taxpayers, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recommended providing special services to these loyal taxpayers so that others can be motivated to pay taxes and earn the same honor as themselves.
“You are the heroes and heroines of Ethiopia by not succumbing to theft,” he said.
Abiy expressed dissatisfaction with the number of recognized taxpayers, which should have been thousands, but there are only 200, “because there are many thieves both from the government and from the taxpayer camp.”
Therefore, unless these thieves are removed from both sides, it will be difficult to achieve prosperity and think about development, he said.
“If we aspire to a better tomorrow, if we want peace, if we want to work without any problem and pay taxes properly, we must multiply loyal taxpayers,” he said. However, as for the people who ask the government to keep peace in the country without paying their taxes, they oppose the principle of a just government system and they are not making the right demands because they are not fulfilling their duties, Abiy stressed .
Therefore, loyal taxpayers, like the 200, should receive priority services and preferential treatment whenever they go, plus annual recognition.
“I can assure you that we will make it our culture that loyal taxpayers receive preferential treatment and that we will decrease theft and multiply loyal taxpayers like you,” Abiy promised, revealing that anyone who exposes corrupt officials will get tax cuts which will be determined by the Ministry of Finance.
Lake Ayalew, Minister of Revenue, said recognized taxpayers were selected based on 12 criteria including clear availability of basic taxpayer information, tax return, background history of taxpayers, gaps in audit findings, assessment of the tax difference, difference in refund requests, taxpayer contribution to the branch and a clean record.
Sustaining that the tax authority has taken measures to help companies affected by COVID-19, such as extending VAT payment periods so that companies can use the money for some time and tax relief for taxes accumulated in the last six years, Lake said June and July’s tax collection performance is promising and the $ 290 billion collection plan will be achieved for the current fiscal year. He indicated that his Ministry planned to collect 39.4 billion birr in taxes and managed to reach 107 percent of the plan by collecting 42.2 billion birr.
“This has registered a growth of 4.02 billion birr or 10.7 percent compared to the performance of the first two months of the last fiscal year. So our plan is achievable, as we can see from the performance of the first two months, ”Lake said.
