South Sudan’s Jonglei State government last week launched a new tax collection policy aimed at reducing corruption and improving accountability of state revenue.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Kuot Ajok, the state minister for finance and economic planning said they have opened a consolidated public account for revenue collection managed by the State Revenue Commission.
Ajok said the move will help reduce corruption in all government institutions across the state.
“It’s already policy and it’s being implemented. We need our taxes to be put in a single account and that single account is already operational,” he explained.
The minister urged taxpayers in the state to pay their dues into the new account. He warned all government officials from illegally collecting taxes saying stern measures will be applied.
“Now municipality, counties, ministries and other government institution are brought under the state revenue commission to collect taxes under one account,” he added.
The state official noted that the policy will pave way for development in the state.
Before the tax harmonization policy, different taxes were being collected by the counties, Bor municipality, and other government institutions independently.