The National Revenue Authority (NRA) as we all know is a semi-autonomous government revenue authority established by an Act of Parliament established 2003 with the primary mandate to assess and collect tax on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL).

Our focus within the NRA at the moment largely centers reforms. The Sierra Leone tax administrative system has undergone considerable changes since its inception. Reforms have ranged from the formation of the Non-Tax Revenue department (NTR) in 2004, the introduction of Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) in 2009, the launching of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA++) and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2010, establishment of the Domestic Tax Department (DTD) in early 2011, the introduction of the Domestic Tax Information System (DTIS) in 2013, and the establishment of the Extractive Industries Revenue Unit (EIRU) in 2014. We are currently building on these structures and have successfully done so within the last with a significant increase in revenue generation compared to previous years in the Authority’s history. The revenue to GDP ratio has seen a quantum leap from 12% in 2017 to almost 14% in 2018. This ever-increasing mode in revenue mobilization stems from various reforms within the NRA and our approach to Revenue collection.

We are currently taking our reforms to a whole new level by utilizing available technologies within tax administrations around the world with the aim to improving revenue generation. After a successful implementation of ASYCUDA WORLD in January 2019, the NRA is at set to implement the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) and the Electronics Cash Register (ECR). These reforms are set to revolutionize Revenue Mobilization in Sierra Leone and are key to the Revenue mobilisation drive for the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) realize its ambitions for free quality education program; delivering its new direction promises; increasing financial independence; and achieving the middle-income status in the country. We solicit support from our stakeholders especially the business community to not only cooperate but get ready for these changes to enable the NRA to succeed because when the NRA succeeds, so will the country move forward.