Rwanda: Tax Issues Forum Established

26th August 2008 (Allafrica.com)
In bid to facilitate trade and promote business growth in Rwanda, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and the Private Sector Federation have established a tax issues forum (TIF). The forum to discuss tax concerns comes after PSF raised concerns that RRA was partly to blame for the low tax compliance levels in the country.

Nigeria: 'Multiple Taxation, Bane of Nigeria's Tax System'

24th August 2008 (Allafrica.com)
Chairman, Technical Committee on National Tax Policy (TCNTP), Mrs. Ifeko Omogui-Okauru has said multiple taxation is the bane of Nigeria's tax system.

Uganda: Investors Slam New Hotel Tax

24th August 2008 ( New Vision)
HOTEL investors have asked the Government to immediately suspend the local service tax to save them from "double taxation".

Mozambique: Tax Revenue to Fill Any Gap Caused By Swedish Aid Reduction

Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
19 August 2008
Mozambique's Planning and Development Minister, Aiuba Cuereneia, said on Monday that the government will use domestic revenue to cover the reduction in support for the state budget from Sweden, one of the country's main donors.

South Africa: Country's Changing Tax Laws 'Undermining Investor Confidence'

18 August 2008(Business Day-Johannesburg)
CONSTANT changes to SA's tax law changes were undermining investor confidence, especially as many of them had been imposed with retrospective effect, Ed Liptak, director of corporate tax at commercial law firm Webber Wentzel, said at the weekend

South Africa: Former SARS Official Denies Tax Evasion Charges

15 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
SOUTH African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Pravin Gordhan's former right-hand man, Edward Mushanganyisi, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court yesterday on tax evasion charges.

Uganda: Dealing With Taxation Issues in a Partnership

12 August 2008(Allafrica.com)
This is the third in series of my articles for this column discussing the common structures of doing business in Uganda, and the respective tax implications of each of the structures. In this article, I will look at the tax implications of trading as a partnership..

Liberia: 'We've done Nothing Wrong' - BRE Boss, As Dr. Tolbert Makes First Comments

5 August 2008 (Allafrica)
Buchanan Renewable Energies (BRE) has sharply reacted to reports of tax waiver saying it has done nothing wrong during the negotiation process with the Government of Liberia.

Nigeria: Citizens Should Pay Taxes - Board Chairman

1 August 2008 (Allafrica.com)
The newly appointed Executive Chairman of Kaduna State Board of Internal Revenue, Alhaji Ahmed Jibril, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the habit of paying taxes, as another way of assisting the constituted authorities to serve them better

Gambia: Payment of Tax Fundamental For National Development

30 July 2008 (Observer)
Payment of tax is an ancient practice entrenched in the economic systems of civilizations. Revenue accrued from tax goes to ensure that the authority concerned meets the demands of its citizens in terms of service delivery.

Nigeria: FG Seeks Input Into Tax Policy Document

28 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
The Federal Government has commenced the process of sensitization and mobilization of the Nigerian populace, in order to collate ideas and perspectives towards fashioning a National Tax Policy that would support the dream of Nigeria becoming one of the top economies by the year 2020

Zimbabwe: Taxes probe: Zimplats speaks out

24 July 2008 (The Herald)
ZIMBABWE Platinum Holdings Ltd, the number one producer of platinum in the country, on Tuesday played down allegations that it siphoned US$115 million from Zimbabwe in unpaid taxes.

Treasury chief urges on taxes

23rd July 2008 (The Monitor)
“It’s incumbent upon those who formulate our taxation policies and the pillar of this economy to exercise prudence, fairness in narrowing the often wide gap between the rich and very poor,” said Deputy Secretary to the treasury, Mr Keith Muhakanizi while presenting a key note address at a Uganda Debt Network (UDN) public dialogue held at Hotel Africana Friday July 18.
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Namibia: Govt Explains VAT-Free Rating

22 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
The Ministry of Finance says the VAT exemption of certain basic food items will not apply to prepared foods that contain these ingredients. The products that will be tax free from August 1 are fresh and dried beans (excluding canned and frozen beans), sunflower cooking oil, processed animal fat (lard), bread, and bread and cake flour (sifted and unsifted).

Namibia: Zero Tax to Be Effected in August

22 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
Beginning 1 August, 2008, consumers will pay less on selected basic food items; more than a month after President Hifikepunye Pohamba directed an amendment to the VAT Bill.

Namibia: Govt Explains VAT-Free Rating

22 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
The Ministry of Finance says the VAT exemption of certain basic food items will not apply to prepared foods that contain these ingredients. The products that will be tax free from August 1 are fresh and dried beans (excluding canned and frozen beans), sunflower cooking oil, processed animal fat (lard), bread, and bread and cake flour (sifted and unsifted).

Uganda: Kacita Complains of High Tax Burden amidst Narrow Base

21 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
THE finance ministry has failed to widen the tax base but has increased the tax burden, Issa Ssekitto, the Kampala City Traders Association's (KACITA) spokesman, has said. Referring to the new local service tax, he said:" It is just a duplication of Pay As You Earn and income tax but won't increase tax revenue

Rwanda: Paying Taxes for Economic Independence

18 July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
President Paul Kagame has urged tax payers to be more compliant, as it is the only way for Rwanda to be economically independent. Kagame was speaking at the 7th Taxpayers' Day, during which Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) also celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Nigeria: NNPC Rejects Tax Exemption for NLNG Contractors

18th July 2008 (Leadership Nigeria)
The House of Representatives Committee on Gas has expressed deep concern over the attitude of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) for its poor response to the efforts to amend the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) fiscal incentives, guarantees and assurances Act by the House

Nigeria: Citizens to Pay More Tax

17th July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
If the proposed National Tax Policy scales through, Nigerians are to pay more of Value Added Tax and Customs Duties. A highlight of the draft document made available to Daily Trust suggests a low Companies Income Tax and Personal Income Tax, while jerking up the Value Added Tax (VAT).

Sierra Leone: Why Tax?

16th July 2008 (Allafrica.com)
What is tax?
Why should we pay tax?
What is the essence of tax? These are some of the numerous questions, frequently asked by many people especially during the just concluded local council elections although there was a time when it was politically twisted for political supremacy by the two political parties, some comment negatively whiles the other party comment on it negatively.

Copper Mining in Zambia

July 2008 (Institute of Security Studies)
The last four years have seen a surge in mining activities throughout sub-Saharan Africa, partly in response to policies of economic liberalisation, privatisation and favourable conditions for foreign investment. The renewed interest in mining activities comes as a result of a boom in commodity prices occasioned by increased demand from China and India. Thus, foreign investors have arrived on the scene to either buy former state mining companies, now privatised, or to start new mining companies, often protected by favourable mining policies and legislation (Campbell 2004).

Tanzania: Company Wins Reprieve on Tax

14 July 2008 (The Citizen)
Oil marketing company TIOT got a temporal tax relief after the Tax Revenue Appeals Board issued an order allowing it to deposit a half of Sh900 million demanded by Tanzania Revenue Authority. TRA has been engaged in the tax row with TIOT since 2003 after a tax assessment at its office in Tanga that found out that the oil company had a tax liability of slightly over Sh901 million

Kenya: MPs Willing to Pay Taxes, Says Kalonzo

14 July 2008 (East African Standard)
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has re-ignited the debate of taxing allowances of members of Parliament, saying the MPs were willing to pay taxes. "All of us in Parliament are willing to be taxpayers," Mr Musyoka said yesterday. "We have to lead from the front. That's what the 10th Parliament intends to do." The vice president was speaking at KICC at the launch of a new logo and ISO certification award for the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Tanzania: MPs May Debate Bomani Mining Review Proposals

10th July 2008 (Daily)
A report by the Bomani Commission, which was appointed last year by President Jakaya Kikwete to review the mining sector, may be tabled for discussion in parliament before the end of the current session. This follows pressure from members of parliament who have been lobbying to have the report's recommendations debated in the House among other issues, including the government's mining contracts, policy and laws.

Tanzania: No Tax Holidays, Report Says

July 09 2008 (Daily News)
THE President's Committee on the Mining Sector has advised the government to stop throwing away the country's riches in lavish tax exemptions, saying the investors don't need any such coaxing. Instead, the Committee recommends increased royalties based on gross rather net-back values, which often suffer from under-declarations and other ways employed to evade tax.

Kenya: Taxman Surpasses Target by Sh9.2 Billion

8 July 2008 (Daily Nation)
Kenya Revenue Authority collected Sh118.4 billion between April and June to bring the total collection for the year ended June to Sh433.9 billion, surpassing the 2007/2008 financial year target by Sh9.2 billion. KRA Commissioner-General Michael Waweru addresses the press at Times Towers during Monday's announcement of the revenue performance report for the period between July 2007 and June 2008.

Zimbabwe: Mining Between a Rock And a Hard Place

30 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
International condemnation of Robert Mugabe's controversial re-election as president of Zimbabwe has now turned to criticism of foreign businesses operating in the country, which are seen as helping to prop up the regime. Despite the meltdown of the economy, a number of multinational corporations have continued operations in the Southern African country and some have even proposed expansion. Last week mining giant Anglo American announced it would go ahead with a US$400 million plan to open new platinum mine.

Namibia: New VAT Guidelines

28 June 2008 (New Era)

Prime Minister Nahas Angula has instructed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to come up with practical guidelines to be followed by retailers to ensure total compliance to Government's decision on zero-rating tax on selected food items. This comes after both Parliament and the National Council passed the Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Bill.

Tanzania: New steps to net firms claiming tax losses

27 June 2008 (East African)
The days of corporations hiding behind losses to evade paying tax to the Tanzania government are numbered after the recent review of tax rates, fees and other charges, as well as tax administration and collection procedures.

Tanzania:Dar halts tax reforms in mining sector

27 june 2008 (East African)
Mining firms operating in Tanzania have received a temporary relief from tax reforms that were expected to be effected by the government in the financial year 2008/09. Instead Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Mustafa Mkulo in his budget said the government will introduce a 0.3 per cent alternative mining tax on the turnover of companies declaring losses for three consecutive years.

Double taxation still stalks East Africa

27 June 2008 (Daily Nation)
East African finance ministers announced a number of tax reforms in their budget proposals, but yet again remained silent on the double taxation. The continued absence of double taxation agreements among East African Community member states means that companies with branches in other countries within the region will continue to pay stipulated corporate tax in the country hosting their subsidiaries besides the tax they pay in the country where they are headquartered.

Ghana: Country to Lose GH¢92.47 Million

25 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
Ghana is to lose GH¢92.47million as a result of the temporal measures taken by government on the removal of tariffs to cushion the economy. This was made known by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), Anthony Akoto Osei at a press briefing in Accra.

Ghana: Mining Companies to Pay Higher Tariffs

25 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
Mining companies in the country would from the beginning of next month (July 1st, 2008) pay higher tariffs on energy (electricity) consumed for their operations. Steel mills and other high voltage consumers of electricity would also be affected.

Mozambique suspends fuel tax

21 June 2008 (IOL news)
Maputo - The Mozambican government is to temporarily suspended customs duties and value added tax on all imported fuel products, state media reported on Saturday.

Mozambique: Second wave of reforms aims to share wealth

16 June 2008 (Irin News)
After a four year stint working on a South African gold mine in Johannesburg, Orlando Khosa, 33, returned home to Mozambique to establish his own business and eight years later it proved to be a smart business decision. "I used to earn about R2, 000 (US$250) a month at an underground gold mine in Carlton, but the money was not enough and I decided to come back home in the year 2000," Khosa told IRIN

Tanzania: Talking to Miners is digging the Hole Deeper

15 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)

Last November, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete established a Mining Review Committee chaired by former Attorney-General (retired) Justice Mark Bomani. The 12-member committee was given six months to review the mining regulations and relative taxation, as well as the management/control systems currently in force in the country. It was also mandated to look into extant contracts between multinational miners and the government. The objective was to foster equitability in mining, creating a win-win situation for Tanzanians (the natural owners) and investors (the risk-takers).

Ghana- Government Urged to Reconsider Tax Exemptions to Mining Companies

13th June 2008.(allafrica)
The General Secretary of the General Mine Workers Union (GMWU) Ghana, Mr. Prince William Ankrah has called on government to re-consider the tax concessions given to mining companies that operating in the country. In his view, instead of the nation benefiting from the tax exemptions the companies rather use the funds to employ expatriate workers to the detriment of Ghanaian workers with equal educational qualifications

South Africa: Fuelling Debate.

12 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
IF IT is any consolation to our beleaguered government, it is not the only administration in the world that is under pressure to cut fuel taxes to provide relief for hard-pressed consumers. Business and consumer groups have been baying for fuel tax cuts in much of the developed and developing world. It was even an issue during the US presidential nomination process, although now that Hillary Clinton has thrown in the towel, her call for a fuel tax holiday seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Guinea: Winners and Losers in Country's Bauxite Industry

9 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
With half of the world's known bauxite reserves, Guinea's mining sector is seen as the country's most important engine of growth. But some civil society groups fear the hundreds of thousands of dollars companies should be paying in taxes to support development in villages on mined land does not always get through to the right people. "Companies have been mining here for 36 years and we have never once in that time received taxes from them for using our land," said Helage Suriba Sylla, president of the rural development committee (CRD) which regulates community development in Mambia, which lies in Kindia prefecture, 80 km from the capital Conakry

Tanzania: Row Simmers over Dar's $0.46 Million Payment to UK Firm

9 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
A row is brewing over the circumstances under which the Ministry of Infrastructure Development directed the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to pay millions of shillings to a UK-based consultancy firm for services it rendered to third parties. The British firm, DLA Piper, was paid for services it had rendered to the Tanzania Airports Authority, which -although also falling under the ministry - is a totally different entity. DLA Piper was asked to carry out a consultancy at the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) on two worn-out Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) and Single Point Mooring (SPM) systems at the Dar es Salaam port as well as a consultancy on construction works at the Kilimanjaro and Mwanza airports for the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA

To discerning Nigerians, the grim reality of the country's sole dependence on income generated from oil revenue is a matter for serious concern. This

9 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
A row is brewing over the circumstances under which the Ministry of Infrastructure Development directed the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to pay millions of shillings to a UK-based consultancy firm for services it rendered to third parties. The British firm, DLA Piper, was paid for services it had rendered to the Tanzania Airports Authority, which -although also falling under the ministry - is a totally different entity. DLA Piper was asked to carry out a consultancy at the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) on two worn-out Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) and Single Point Mooring (SPM) systems at the Dar es Salaam port as well as a consultancy on construction works at the Kilimanjaro and Mwanza airports for the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA

Nigeria: Good News from the Tax Sector

8 June 2008 (Allafrica.com)
To discerning Nigerians, the grim reality of the country's sole dependence on income generated from oil revenue is a matter for serious concern. This virtual mono-cultural economic tendency is dangerous as it ties the nation's fortunes to the vagaries of global oil market and the unpredictable socio-political situations in the country's oil producing belt. This is why the country's economy was so badly affected by the international oil glut of the early 1980s. It is currently losing substantial revenue due to the extant volatile situation in the Niger Delta.

Namibia: Mining Earnings Jump 13 Percent

June 2, 2008 (Allafrica.com)
Namibia's mining industry announced a bumper turnover of N$13.8 billion last year, representing a 13 percent increase Value addition generated a record N$5.5 billion contributing almost 12 percent to Namibia's Gross Domestic Product and almost 60 percent to merchandise exports.

Kenya- Mobitelea reaps millions in Safaricom's payout

5/29/2008
Treasury and Vodafone Kenya will pocket Sh2 billion in proposed dividends after Safaricom announced record profits. The two are the shareholders of East Africa's most profitable company. Mobitelea
Ventures, the shadowy Guernsey-registered entity, are among the major indirect beneficiaries of Safaricom's sterling performance for the year ending March 31, 2008.

Kenya - Taxation offers scope for containing rising oil price

28 May 2008.
Last week we delved into a subject that for a while now has concentrated every mind in this country, burnt a hole through every pocket and continues to leave a sour taste in the mouth for some time to come—oil and its soaring price. I started by laying out the backdrop in which oil is traded globally, setting out the major market drivers and illustrating how these manifest in our pump prices

Uganda_ Flower sector to get ten-year tax holiday

May 26, 2008
Investors in the ailing flower sector are counting their fortunes as government moves to strengthen the sector with attractive incentives.The President has directed the investment minister to introduce a ten-year tax holiday in the next financial budget.

Mozambique: Mozambique Revises Mining, Oil Fiscal Incentives Bill

10 May 2007 (Allafrica.com)
Maputo MOZAMBICAN Finance Minister Mr Manuel Chang on Tuesday introduced into the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, a Bill revising the fiscal incentives for mining and oil activities

Transparency, Accountability and Responsibility-Malawians Being Duped

29 April, 2008 02:30:00 (Nyasa Times)
Transparency, accountability and responsibility are three fundamental cornerstones of good corporate governance for any public organization. Talk to any accountant and they will assert that a good board of directors and top management team needs to safeguard transparency in their organization's dealings while concurrently ensuring accountability and responsibility for all transactions. Yet an assessment of the current regime in Malawi in this limelight points to glaring shortfalls in as far as good "corporate governance" is concerned.

Ivory Coast: Protests force Ivory Coast tax cuts

10th April 2008 (Aljazeera.net)
Ivory Coast has slashed the taxes on imported staple foods after two days of violent protests in the commercial capital Abidjan over rising prices.

Kenya: Taxation the only solution to inequality

According to old taxation theories, the most basic functions of a State are to protect the lives and property of their citizens from internal and external aggressors.
Naturally, the State requires resources to do this, and the most equitable way of getting the resources would be to tax people in accordance with the kind of protection they require.

DRC: Controversial EIB-backed mining project in the Congo to face contract

03 April 2008 (Bicusa.org)
DRC mining contract commission to push for a greater share in the Tenke Fungurume mining concession, one of the largest copper-cobalt deposits in the world. Critics charge that EIB's investment in the highly contested project before the conclusion of the contract review was "irresponsible

Kenya: UK probe fails to unravel Mobitelea

An investigation by the British government's Serious Fraud Office into the complex issue of Mobitelea's share of the Kenyan mobile phone giant Safaricom has not resolved the matter, it has been revealed.

South Africa: New Tax Regime 'Will Attract Multinationals

28 March 2008-
SA NEEDS to adjust its tax regime in order to entice multinationals to set up operations in the country as a base for expanding into Africa, says an international tax expert.
Wilfred D'Haese, PricewaterhouseCoopers' tax partner based in Belgium, said on a recent visit to SA that the company rate cut in the budget was a positive sign.

Namibia- Pitfalls of export processing zones

26th march 2008 (Pambazuka.org)
Under AGOA, Ramatex Textile & Garment Factory, a Malaysian company moved to Namibia. Herbert Jauch looks at the cost of allowing companies to operate without government regulation, tax exemption and government sanctioned suspension of worker rights in Export Processing Zones.

Sierra Leone: Ernest Koroma's corporatist agenda

26 March 2008 (Allafrica.com)
A recent statement issued by the British Department for International Development (DFID) revealed that England has provided some US$72 million to support what it refers to as "a new social and economic reform program" in Sierra Leone to be carried out by the newly imposed neocolonial regime of Ernest Bai Koroma.

Tanzania: How Can We Escape the Resource Curse?

21 March 2008 (Allafrica.com)
It's no a longer a conspiracy theory. We can no longer simply wish it away. Within the next 10 years three of the country's large-scale gold mines will close.
However, the country is not yet set to benefit significantly from these mines.
Why are we in such a gloomy state? We once observed a former chief economist and senior vice-president of the World Bank turning into a critic of International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

South Africa: Manuel Calls Bluff of Tax-Avoidance Schemes

20 March 2008 - (Allafrica.com
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel yesterday announced that tough measures were in the pipeline to crack down on tax avoidance schemes that used legitimate transactions to generate artificial deductions through excessive financing

Uganda: Local Service Tax; It's Double Burden

19 March 2008- (Allafrica.com)
The 2007/08 budget introduced a new tax called Local Service Tax. The tax is provided for in the Local Government Act (Amendment) Bill 2007 now before Parliament. The tax has sparked mixed reactions with protest from workers.

SOUTH AFRICA*: South. A review mining royalty bill – minister

Mon 17 Mar 200 (Reuters)
South Africa's government may review a draft bill that would increase royalty payments for mining firms after complaints from companies and unions, the minerals and energy minister said on Monday.

Tanzania: Activists and Religious Communities Launch Critical Mining

13 March 2008 (Allafrica.com)
Salma Maoulidi looks at the mining research report
"A Golden Opportunity?
How Tanzania is failing to benefit from Gold Mining" and argues that it builds a powerful case for continued activism in trade and economic justice in line with various Human rights instruments that call for a country's wealth and natural resources to benefit primarily local communities.

Uganda: URA Taxation Curricula Ready

12th March 2008 (Allafrica.com)
THE tax education curricular developed by the Uganda Revenue Authority for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, are now ready and will be officially handed over to the ministry of Education and Sports today

SOUTH AFRICA: Private equity tax loopholes to tighten

March 9, 2008: Johannesburg - (Business Report)
In the recent budget, the treasury said it would examine the taxes paid by companies bought out in private equity deals to determine whether the fiscus was losing out on revenue

Ghana: No Incentive Needed for Investing in the Mining Sector - Tax

25 February 2008 (Allafrica.com)
An international tax expert, Mrs. Susan Himes wants Ghana to take a critical look at her corporate tax policy, with particular reference to tax incentives.
According to her, majority of econometric studies (application and interpretation of economic issues in mathematical terms) show that the cost of tax incentives in the form of lost revenue exceeds the benefits of increased investment

Ghana: Mining Companies Turn the Heat on Govt

22 February 2008 (Allafrica.com)
The President of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), Mr. Paul Mitchell has pointed out that the underdevelopment in many mining communities in the country could partly be laid at the door steps of present and past governments

Zambia: New Tax Regime Non-Negotiable

20 February 2008. (Allafrica.com)

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa's invitation to mining companies is not to renegotiate development agreements or the new tax regime for the mining industry.

Uganda country Report

January 2008 (Institute of Policy Research & Analysis)
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) was established in September 1991 as an autonomous agency to administer Central Government taxes...URA was an attempt to integrate central government taxes under one management, and to improve revenue collection through enhanced autonomy, acquisition of skilled staff, increased integrity and effective use of automated system.

South Africa: Business 'To Set the Pace' in Tax Rules

10 January 2008 (Allafrica.com)
New business models developed by multinationals to address the opportunities of globalization require fresh approaches by tax authorities, says the director of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Jeffrey Owens