A specialist at the UN Development Program has advised the government to act against institutions and individuals who collect revenues without reporting or accounting for it.
According to Kordzo Sedegah, this will help minimize malpractices and generate more revenue for South Sudan.
“What you are having from budget transparency is also a form of public financial management, so people will know you use the money for what,” he said.
The funds are collected through various taxes and channeled into a single account.
In July last year, the Chairperson of the Economic Cluster subcommittee, Onyoti Adigo disclosed that import taxes among others are still being diverted into private bank accounts.
In the same year, President Salva Kiir admitted that non-oil revenues were not being fully remitted into the single block account of the National Revenue Authority.
He maintained that when collected and well managed, the non-oil revenue should be able to meet the government’s expenditure.
Kordzo Sedegah who is UNDP Public Financial Management Technical Specialist agrees that with stronger financial institutions, South Sudan can generate more revenues.
“Basically you tell people that, okay, the government has $1 million or SSP 1 million, and this is how they are going to use the money,” he told Eye Radio’s Dawn program on Wednesday. “Then over time, there are sanctions for collecting revenue and not reporting on that revenue.”
Last month, the National Revenue Authority launched the electronic registration system for paying taxes.
This is in line with the South Sudan Taxation Act, 2009.
The NRA is mandated to assess, collect, administrate and enforce laws relating to taxation and revenues.
The Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division said the electronic system will reduce corruption and make it virtually impossible to divert public funds.
Taxpayers in South Sudan can access the electronic portal for tax payment and tax clearance certificates on: www.etax.nra.gov.ss.