Togo’s tax earnings on the rise driven by tax governance support project

Public finance

Monday, 17 May 2021 16:50

Togo’s tax earnings on the rise driven by tax governance support project

(Togo First) - From CFA516.3 billion in 2015, tax earnings in Togo surged 21.29% to 626.2 billion in 2019. The increase was driven by the Tax Governance Support Project (PAGFI), indicates a report of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project’s main financial backer.

The period corresponds to the first years of operation of the PAGFI. The project’s goal is to sustainably increase Togo’s financial resources and accelerate its transition out of the group of fragile countries.

Despite the improvement recorded, the country failed to meet, mostly due to Covid-19, the expectations of the AfDB. Indeed, the pan-African bank hoped that Togo’s economy would have grown from 5.5% in 2014 to 7% in 2020. However, according to Sani Yaya, minister of finance, at the end of 2020, the figure stood at 1.8%, up 1.1 percentage point more than national forecasts.

Regardless, “the project is on the right track to achieve its final development objectives, considering the will shown by parties concerned to speed up its activities,” the AfDB stressed.

The PAGFI benefits from a CFA12.5 billion financing and covers the 2016-2021 period.

Togo Secures CFA36 Billion for Agricultural Development from Islamic Development Bank

Togo: Nearly 12,000 Businesses Registered in January-September 2024 (CFE)

Togo: Second Edition of Renewable Energy Days Held last Week

Next Month, 10 Togolese Tech Startups Will Be in South Africa for an Immersion Program

Togo: Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor Foundation Facilitates New Partnership between the Lomé University and an American University

togo-sheyi-emmanuel-adebayor-foundation-facilitates-new-partnership-between-the-lome-university-and-an-american-university

Togo Has Nearly 13,000 Public Health Workers (2023 Census)

Togo: Yango Suspended Over Illicit Operations

Lomé: Togolese Bankers Discuss Risk Management in WAEMU

lome-togolese-bankers-discuss-risk-management-in-waemu

Germany Allocates €25 Million to Togo, Benin and Guinea-Bissau for Extremism Prevention

Here is How Togo’s Investment Rate Fluctuated over Past 10 Years, (BCEAO)

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.