Liberian Revenue Authority mounting aggressive tax collection initiative

The Liberia Revenue Authority's (LRA) will soon commence a major enforcement initiative aimed at recovering the country's real estate tax debts.

When Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf came to power in 2006, she waived all taxes from the year 1847 up to 2006 to give taxpayers a chance to get caught up. The LRA, however, maintains some property owners have still not paid their taxes. 

“This vision by our president has not been met, as evidenced by the real estate tax annual contributions to the national fiscal envelope over the periods which have not been more than 1 percent,” Lasana A. Kroma Sr., the LRA's assistant commissioner for the real estate tax division, said.   

Kroma said the tax recoveries will be enforced by placing liens on non-compliant properties and encouraging property owners to visit local LRA offices to ensure they are up to date on their real estate taxes.

“Let me add that our real estate tax regime is one of the lowest property tax payer[s] in West Africa," Kromah said. "Remember, a good taxpayer is a nation builder as taxes bring development."

Liberia's real estate tax is an annual tax, due once a year between Jan. 1 and June 30 in the year in which it is levied.