Monrovia, Liberia, September 13, 2017//-The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has signed a partnership agreement with LoneStar Cell MTN, Orange Liberia and the United Bank of Africa (UBA) for the introduction of the payment of tax using mobile money, for the first time ever in Liberia.
The official payment of tax using mobile money is expected to begin in November this year.
The partnership code name “Proof of Concept Agreement (PoC) for Mobile Payments”, was singed on Thursday September 7, 2017 in Monrovia and will pave the way for tax payment by means of mobile money services.
Under the pilot arrangement, the two GSM companies will design accessible payment platforms to facilitate tax payment using mobile money.
The agreement will cover all tax and non-tax fee collections including Cooperate Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Excise Tax as well as birth and marriage certificates payments among others.
The first phase of the project will incorporate small tax payments which is expected to be extended to other segments of tax payment.
Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba, who signed for the LRA, described the partnership agreement as a “major milestone” under the LRA’s modernization and transformation agenda.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the LRA in transforming tax administration in Liberia through the application of aggressive and sustainable technologies aimed at ensuring easy means to attain voluntary tax compliance and enhance the facilitation of domestic revenue mobilization.
CG Tamba, among others, lauded the telecom partners and the UBA for endorsing the partnership including USAID RG3 project for their continuous support to the LRA.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, LoneStar Cell MTN Deputy Chief Executive Officer Louis Roberts, Orange Chief Executive Officer Mamadou Coulibaly and UBA’s Managing Director Olalekan Balogun respectively pledged their commitments to fully implement the agreement.
They expressed their willingness in supporting the LRA to achieve its tax payment transformation programs.
For his part, USAID-Liberia Director for Democracy and Governance Jeremy Meadows praised the collaboration between the LRA and the private sector which he noted is a vital step in achieving government-private partnership.
Liberia Revenue Authority
