South Sudan parliament readies income tax bill for final vote

By Isaac Vuni

July 13, 2009 (JUBA) – The legislators of the Government of Southern Sudan Goss took another step toward an income tax today when they passed a tax bill unanimously for a third and final reading.

The purpose of the 2009 income tax bill is to define a system of principles for collection in South Sudan, said Hon. Caesar Bayeli Loyalaa, by which charges, rights and obligations to taxpayers would be assessed.

Hon. Loyalaa, who is the Deputy Chairman for Legislation and Legal Affairs, hailed the presentation of the bill made by another body within the legislature, the committee for Economy, Development and Finance Observation and Recommendations.

In his presentation, Hon. James Reat Gony, Deputy Chairman of Economy, Development and Finance, explained that the income taxes will peak at a highest rate of ten percent of basic pay.

He revealed that consultants have trained 77 tax officers but only four are found to be able to calculate income tax correctly. Hence he called on legislators to pass the tax bill and to recommend for disbandment of unauthorized taxes, especially at border points.

Hon. Dr. Achol Marial, who was formerly the Minister of Health in the New Sudan administration, remarked that the South should not entirely depend on oil revenue currently being sent from Khartoum, which accounts for the bulk of the revenue of the administration of the semi-autonomous region.

The measure was debated in a session attended by 97 legislators, chaired by Hon Jimmy Wongo Miji, Chairman of the Public Account Committee.

Several ministers attended including Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Martin Elias Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Luka Tombekana Monoja, Minister of Finance David Deng Athorbie, Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development Michael Makuei Lueth, and the dismissed finance minister, Athur Akwen, among others.

(ST)