The Commissioner General, Public Affairs and Tax Education Unit of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) has called on Mobile Company Operators to correctly communicate their obligations to the people of Sierra Leone.

The NRA in a press statement said: “As a result of a certain SMS (Short Message Service) from major Mobile Company Operators alerting the public of an eminent increase of 15% on monies sent through the mobile company operators in Sierra Leone, the NRA is left without options but to respond to such erroneous information.

“Contrary to the circulated information contained in the SMS by the mobile companies, the NRA wishes to make it very clear that the Finance Act of 2023 makes provision for Goods and Services Tax (GST) to be paid on service charge (not the actual money to be sent) but rather the money paid for the service which is borne by the service provider and not the sender as provided for in the second schedule of the Finance Act 2023.

“The NRA further makes it clear that GST on mobile operations have been in existence before 2021 when it was repealed and reinstated in 2023. As such, it is not a new tax.

“The NRA is sensitive to the current global economic challenge and would therefore work in the interest of all Sierra Leoneans and not turning blind to enforcing tax regulations which is part of our core functions. The NRA therefore calls on Mobile Company Operators to correctly communicate their obligations to the people of Sierra Leone”.