—Expands Nationwide Tax Compliance Training to Strengthen Local Revenue Systems
The Liberia Revenue Authority, through its Domestic Tax Department, has ended a three-day stakeholder engagement initiative marking the start of Phase Three of the Real Property Tax Expansion Project in Grand Bassa County.
The project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Government of Sweden, is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen real property tax administration and improve revenue generation at the county level.
Phase Three of the initiative targets Electoral District Number 3 and focuses on key technical activities, including digital property mapping, data cleansing, system tracking, and property valuation.
The project seeks to ensure that 50 percent of all revenues collected from real property tax in the county are disbursed for local development programs, in line with the Local Government Act of 2018, while promoting decentralization, transparency, and efficiency.
The Local Government Act of 2018 mandates that up to 50 percent of revenues generated from real property taxes be returned to counties to support local development programs and projects.
Speaking at the stakeholder dialogue, LRA Commissioner for Domestic Tax, Margaret P. Krote, described the initiative as a transformative approach to tax administration in Liberia.
“This is about making people understand that the taxes they pay will come back to them. Development will no longer feel distant but will be seen and experienced right here in the county.” She said.
She emphasized that engagement is critical to raising awareness about the project, its benefits, and the role of citizens in supporting tax compliance.
Madam Krote commended UNDP for its continued support, describing the organization as a key partner in advancing the project.
For his part, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson welcomed the initiative, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparency and equitable distribution of revenues generated from property taxes between the local and central governments.
He urged residents to actively participate in the process, noting that increased compliance would directly contribute to improved development outcomes in the county.
Also speaking, UNDP Program Coordinator for Decentralization, Eric Boykai, underscored the importance of the stakeholder engagement in strengthening local governance and enhancing domestic revenue mobilization.
The dialogue brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including local leaders, business representatives, civil society organizations, youth and student groups, transport unions, motorcyclists, and market women.
The project is expected to be completed in July this year and is being implemented by KWARECOM, a local consultancy firm with expertise in property data management, digital mapping, and real property tax system development.
The real property expansion project represents a significant step toward decentralizing revenue collection and ensuring that communities directly benefit from taxes generated within their jurisdictions.
meanwhile, vThe Liberia Revenue Authority has intensified efforts to strengthen tax administration at the local level with the rollout of the second phase of its nationwide tax compliance training for county finance officers and sector stakeholders across six counties.
The initiative, being implemented by the LRA’s Government and Not-For-Profit Division, is part of a broader strategy to enhance domestic resource mobilization and improve compliance with Liberia’s tax laws, particularly at the county level.
The training program targets key actors involved in public financial management, including county administration officials, finance officers, accountants, procurement officers, and logisticians. It also brings together members of county health teams, education officers, and representatives of county councils.
The program is designed to equip stakeholders with the technical knowledge and practical tools required to correctly apply withholding taxes on payments for goods and services, ensure timely remittances, and safeguard government revenue in line with the Liberia Revenue Code.
The initiative also aligns with the Local Government Act, which empowers county administrations to manage development funds for priority projects approved by county councils.
Central to the training is the withholding tax regime, which requires public institutions and other designated entities to deduct taxes at source when making payments for goods, services and labor.
The sessions cover legal obligations of withholding agents, applicable withholding tax rates, sector-specific compliance guidelines, payment timelines, and approved remittance channels, including hands-on training on the use of the Liberia Integrated Tax Administration System (LITAS).
Two LRA technical teams headed by T. Edwin Taylor, Enforcement Officer, and Richmond Dailaway, Compliance Officer, are conducting simultaneous training sessions across participating counties, including Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe, and Maryland, building on the success of the first phase conducted in March.
The nationwide training forms part of the LRA’s ongoing fiscal reform agenda aimed at modernizing tax administration, expanding the use of digital platforms such as LITAS, and ensuring efficient tax filing and payment systems.
Local officials in the targeted counties have welcomed the initiative, underscoring the need that strengthening the capacity of county-level stakeholders is critical to improving compliance, enhancing revenue collection, and promoting transparency in public financial management.
Through sustained stakeholder engagement and capacity-building initiatives, the Authority aims to foster a culture of compliance and strengthen Liberia’s domestic revenue base as a foundation for long-term economic growth.
The LRA remains committed to efficient tax administration, transparency, and professionalism, all geared toward contributing to Liberia’s development and prosperity.The Liberia Revenue Authority has intensified efforts to strengthen tax administration at the local level with the rollout of the second phase of its nationwide tax compliance training for county finance officers and sector stakeholders across six counties.
The initiative, being implemented by the LRA’s Government and Not-For-Profit Division, is part of a broader strategy to enhance domestic resource mobilization and improve compliance with Liberia’s tax laws, particularly at the county level.
The training program targets key actors involved in public financial management, including county administration officials, finance officers, accountants, procurement officers, and logisticians. It also brings together members of county health teams, education officers, and representatives of county councils.
The program is designed to equip stakeholders with the technical knowledge and practical tools required to correctly apply withholding taxes on payments for goods and services, ensure timely remittances, and safeguard government revenue in line with the Liberia Revenue Code.
The initiative also aligns with the Local Government Act, which empowers county administrations to manage development funds for priority projects approved by county councils.
Central to the training is the withholding tax regime, which requires public institutions and other designated entities to deduct taxes at source when making payments for goods, services and labor.
The sessions cover legal obligations of withholding agents, applicable withholding tax rates, sector-specific compliance guidelines, payment timelines, and approved remittance channels, including hands-on training on the use of the Liberia Integrated Tax Administration System (LITAS).
Two LRA technical teams headed by T. Edwin Taylor, Enforcement Officer, and Richmond Dailaway, Compliance Officer, are conducting simultaneous training sessions across participating counties, including Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe, and Maryland, building on the success of the first phase conducted in March.
The nationwide training forms part of the LRA’s ongoing fiscal reform agenda aimed at modernizing tax administration, expanding the use of digital platforms such as LITAS, and ensuring efficient tax filing and payment systems.
Local officials in the targeted counties have welcomed the initiative, underscoring the need that strengthening the capacity of county-level stakeholders is critical to improving compliance, enhancing revenue collection, and promoting transparency in public financial management.
Through sustained stakeholder engagement and capacity-building initiatives, the Authority aims to foster a culture of compliance and strengthen Liberia’s domestic revenue base as a foundation for long-term economic growth.
The LRA remains committed to efficient tax administration, transparency, and professionalism, all geared toward contributing to Liberia’s development and prosperity.
