ADDIS ABABA – The Addis Ababa Revenues Bureau has announced a revenue collection target of 256 billion Birr for the current fiscal year’s tax declaration and payment season. In a significant departure from previous years, the bureau has introduced a new, staggered payment schedule for different taxpayer categories to reduce congestion and curb opportunities for corruption.
The 2017 Ethiopian Calendar (E.C.) tax notification period, which corresponds to the 2024/2025 fiscal year, runs from July 8, 2024, to October 30, 2025.
Category “C” taxpayers began the process of declaring their taxes today, with their declaration period extending until August 5, 2024.
Sewnet Ayele, the Communications Director for the Bureau, told Tikvah Ethiopia that the schedules for other categories have been revised based on feedback from the business community.
“Previously, Category ‘B’ taxpayers paid their taxes from July 8 to September 10. This year, that has been changed,” said Ato Sewnet. “The month of Hamle (July 8 – August 6) will now be used for preparation. They are scheduled to pay their taxes from August 7 to September 10.”
He added that to prevent last-minute rushes and overcrowding, the payment for Category ‘B’ taxpayers will be managed alphabetically, with specific weeks in August and early September allocated to taxpayers based on their name.
A similar change affects Category “A” taxpayers, who previously had the entire period from July 8 to October 30 for declaration and payment. Under the new system, the months of Hamle and Nehasse (July 8 – September 5) are designated as preparation periods. Their tax payment window is now scheduled for the months of Meskerem and Tikimt (approximately September 11 to November 9, 2025).
“These changes are designed to prevent the pressure and long queues that taxpayers face and to help mitigate corrupt practices,” the director explained.
Ato Sewnet also revealed that the bureau is implementing 24 new operational procedures to resolve issues raised during discussions with the business community. As an example, he cited a new system designed to ensure uniformity in audit decisions.
“There was a loophole in our previous system where two auditors could review the same file and arrive at two different decisions. We have now established a new procedure to eliminate such inconsistencies,” he stated. These new measures are effective immediately.
