Revenue Mobilization for the Post-2015 Development Agenda in Africa: Past Lesson s and Future Projections ATRN 2 nd ANNUAL CONGRESS Seychelles. Damacrine M. Masira. 05/09/2016 1 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
AGENDA 1 INTRODUCTION Brief Overview on SDG s 2 PROBLEM STATEMENT Funding SDG s FINANCING SDG s 3 4 OBJECTIVES Role of Taxation in Financing SDG s 5 RECOMMENDATIONS 6 Q&A
INTRODUCTION- Overview of SDG s Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland et al. 1987 cited Bithas and Christofakis 2006). This means that state and private actors in the present time must meet the ever increasing demands of the present society, by consuming less resources, while producing more and not limiting the ability of future generations to do the same for themselves. The 5P s elements of Sustainable Development Goals are: People: End Poverty & hunger in all forms & ensure dignity and equality. Planet: Protect our planet s natural resources and climate for future generations. Prosperity: Ensure prosperous & fulfilling lives in harmony with nature. Peace: Foster peaceful, just & inclusive societies. Partnerships: Implement the agenda through a solid global partnership. 3 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
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MDG s Why the Shift from MDG s to SDG s? 1 Goals were set and driven by rich countries and Aid Agencies 2 Means of Implementation (MoI) Monitoring & follow up was not defined in advance. 3 These was a Non Binding Agenda as no treaty was signed in 2000 4 MDG s focused on Basic needs only. 5 Funding was through financial Aid. SDG s Goals set and driven by ALL UN member states, promoting ownership MoI, Inter governmentally negotiated, global architecture & monitoring systems being shaped. UN member states signed a treaty promoting ownership and accountability SDG s are holistic with a 3D approach that addresses social, environmental and economical development. Focus on Revenue Mobilization to finance SDG s 6 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
PROBLEM SATEMENT- FINANCING SDG s According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Developing countries across the globe need to find innovative was of financing an average development deficit of US$ 2.5 trillion per year, for basic infrastructure, climate change and food security as per the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (UN 2014). This in itself is a big ask, requiring - by some estimates - an annual increase of between 1.5% and 2.5% of GDP across the board to be invested towards development efforts across the globe (Schmidt-Traub and Shah 2015). With the objective of achieving the SDG s, there is need to assess other effective & sustainable options to mobilize resources instead of focusing on financial aid: One of the most effective & suitable option is Domestic Resource Mobilization. This refers to the generation of savings from domestic resources & their allocations to economical & social productive investments.( OECD, 2010) 7 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
PROBLEM SATEMENT- FINANCING SDG s.cont.. Some Facts: The net financial Aid disbursement as a % of GNI (Gross National Income) declined from 5.34% in 2010, to 4.7% in 2011, 4.54% in 2012 & 2.84% in 2013.(OECD/DAC, 2015 Report). Recent surveys also show an exponential increase in source of revenue. Total Domestic Revenue in Africa grew from $100Billion in 2000 to nearly $530 Billion in 2012.This proves that the DRM is the most viable option of financing the SDG s. 8 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
OBJECTIVES. Use of Tax Systems and Cooperative compliance models to improve revenue collection. Assess the success of strategies utilized in the past to mobilize revenue for development in Africa. Use of Tax Policies to achieve certain Sustainable Development Goals To recommend strategies for revenue mobilization for the next 15 years. 9 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
Why make Changes in Tax Policies? Relevance in Revenue 10 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
ROLE OF TAXATION IN FINANCING SDG Use of Tax Policies to Promote SDG s - Industrialization (under SDG 9) where tax policy especially VAT treatment of exports and inputs into exports, import duty is critical. Health SDG 3 (see WHO 2011) which advocates for increased taxation for cigarettes, sugar loaded drinks etc to tackle non communicable disease. Tax Policy Regime That Attracts Capital Tax Policy Regime That Promotes Country Competitiveness Tax Policy Regime that Incentivises Shift from the Informal Sector to the Formal Sector 11 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
. It s Time for CHANGE 12 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
Use of Tax Systems-Case Study itax, Kenya Revenue Authority KRA recently launched a web-enabled and secure application system that provides a fully-integrated and automated solution for administration of Domestic Taxes Processes. The itax system was launched in 2013 and has enhanced revenue collection by simplifying tax processes for taxpayers and the officers. Some of the advantages of the itax system are: To reduce cost of tax administration To improve business processes To improve transparency in tax administration To enhance customer service To increase level of tax compliance and ultimately, increase revenue collection. 13 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13 Nov-13 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 Jul-15 Sep-15 Nov-15 Jan-16 Mar-16 itax Uptake: Relevance in Revenue 350000 Pre-iTax 600 000 Post-iTax 550 000 300000 500 000 250000 450 000 400 000 200000 350 000 300 000 150000 Payers 250 000 No of Filers 100000 50000 Filers 200 000 150 000 100 000 No of Payers 50 000 0-14 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
VAT UPTAKE 160 000 80% 140 000 70% 120 000 60% 100 000 83 651 89 063 92 677 95 131 96 508 97 766 98 489 104 509 50% 80 000 40% 60 000 63 790 30% 40 000 20% 20 000 10% - Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15 Dec-15 Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16 Total Vat Registration Total VAT returns filed % uptake 0% 15 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
Achievements of the New itax System itax Registration: Currently, approximately 3.2 Million taxpayers are using the itax platform (3,178,131 itax users) Returns Filing: Current uptake of monthly returns: VAT 71% uptake (104,509 returns filed for the month of March 2016 relative to 63,790 in July 2015) PAYE 51% uptake (38,136 returns filed for the month of March 2016 relative to 17,114 for July 2015) & E-Payments: Currently at 71% uptake. KRA through itax has partnered with 40 (of 47) banks and all their branches countrywide through whom payments are made and reflected real time in taxpayer s ledgers. KRA has alongside partnered with mobile service providers to facilitate payment of taxes through mobile applications i.e. M-Pesa and Airtel Money. The payment is then reflected on taxpayers ledgers real-time. This has increased transparency and enhanced trust between tax payers and tax administrators. 16 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
Increase of Revenue Through the itax Platform The itax system has improved on transparency of KRA operations and improved on revenue collection as indicated in the table below: 2014 (Jan-Dec)- Kshs. 174,101,437,866collected through itax 2015 (Jan-Dec)- Kshs. 413,993,278,508collected through itax 2016 (Jan to date)- Kshs. 427,557,539,266 17 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
RECOMMENDATIONS Revenue Authorities need to embrace the cooperative compliance and automate their processes as these are two key areas that promote transparency and trust effectively influencing and improving taxpayer compliance behavior thus improving revenue collection. To review the options available for use of the tax systems to achieve non revenue objectives of the SDG's. To hold an ATAF/ATRN agenda for financing the SDG's - following KRA's intention to free the country from external dependence through resource mobilization. ATAF/ATRN being the main umbrella of ALL revenue Authorities in Africa could play a major role in ensuring revenue authorities in Africa meet their targets to enable them finance the SDG s in Africa. 18 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016
A new kind of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move to higher levels Albert Einstein 19 www.kra.go.ke 13/09/2016