The Central African Republic (CAR) is taking a major step toward modernizing its tax administration by adopting digital solutions aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and revenue collection.
To facilitate the transition, the CAR government recently organized a series of workshops to train tax agents, managers, and taxpayers on how to use the new electronic tax (e-tax) system effectively.
The e-tax platform, designed to enable electronic tax filing and payments, is backed by the European Union (EU) under a 24-month service contract focused on strengthening CAR’s public finance management system.
Jean Marc Dewerpe, the EU’s head of cooperation in CAR, highlighted the significance of tax digitalization in enhancing revenue collection and reducing fraud.
“That is why we are supporting digitisation to improve performance and tax compliance in the area of internal resource mobilisation, which should provide the country with the means to operate and finance its development more independently,” said Dewerpe.
Romain Kobondit Douathe, director general of taxes and state properties, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digital transformation.
“The objective is clear: To increase the mobilisation of domestic resources to finance priority development programmes,” he said, adding that the registration and e-filing modules were fully operational.
The CAR’s move aligns with a broader trend across Africa. As of April 2024, 21 African countries have implemented digital tax regulations requiring non-resident suppliers to account for value-added tax (VAT) on electronic services. This step reflects the continent’s growing shift toward modern tax administration systems.
