By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Central Equatoria State (CES) government has resolved to set a specialized committee to address tax dispute with South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA).
This move comes after a proposal by SSRA to divide Juba City into zones for enhanced tax collection was last month met with resistance from the state government.
Speaking to the media, Hon. Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado, Acting Minister of Information and Communication for CES, confirmed the decision.
He stated that a memorandum outlining the issue was presented by the State Minister of Cabinet Affairs for discussion during Friday’s weekly sitting, chaired by CES, Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel.
Minister Lo-Lado further elaborated that the newly formed committee will be tasked with defining the state’s position and will engage in consultations with the National Revenue Authority.
The objective of these dialogues is to clarify taxation mandates across different levels of government, ultimately seeking an “amicable solution on matters of taxation and revenue collection.”
The SSRA’s recent plan to zone Juba for door-to-door taxpayer registration and education was designed to improve tax compliance and boost revenue. However, the CES government cited concerns over constitutional overreach and a lack of prior consultation, leading to the current standoff.
The committee’s formation signals a formal step towards resolving these inter-governmental taxation complexities in the nation’s capital.
The dispute highlights long-standing uncertainties and jurisdictional overlaps in tax collection. which often leads to confusion for taxpayers and tensions between national and sub-national authorities.
The SSRA, established in 2016, is mandated to assess, collect, administer, and enforce all taxation and revenue laws at the national level, aiming to reduce dependence on oil revenues and bolster non-oil revenue streams.
However, state governments also have constitutional mandates to collect their own revenues, which can create friction.