South Sudan Revenue Authority Achieves Record Collection of SSP 132.6 Billion in March 2025

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

The South Sudan National Revenue Authority (SSRNRA) announced on Monday, that it successfully collected a remarkable SSP 132.6 billion in March 2025, marking a significant milestone for the country’s tax revenue efforts.

During the inauguration of a five-day meeting for the East African Revenue Authorities Technical Committee in Juba, Simon Akuei Deng, Commissioner General of the SSRA, hailed the collection of SSP 132.6 billion as a noteworthy accomplishment, particularly in the realm of non-oil revenue.

“I would like to extend my appreciation and congratulations to my colleagues in both domestic and customs departments, as well as our headquarters. In March 2025, we reported a total gross revenue collection of SSP 132.6 billion,” Akuei stated.

“Media reports suggesting that our collection was just SSP 36 billion are misleading. That figure only reflects revenue from the Nimule border post. We set a goal of SSP 30 billion there, yet we managed to collect SSP 36 billion in March alone. Together with the domestic taxes led by Commissioner Chol Kur, our total reached SSP 132.6 billion. I want to clarify this to counter misrepresentation on social media.

“This achievement deserves to be recorded, as it represents a historic benchmark in the Republic of South Sudan,” Akuei emphasized.

This figure signifies a remarkable increase from SSP 17 billion in January and SSP 34 billion in February 2025, showcasing consistent growth in revenue collection.

The Commissioner attributed the rise in collections to enhanced tax compliance, improved border monitoring, and stricter enforcement of customs regulations.

However, he did express concern regarding the uptick in smuggling activities along the Ugandan border.

“On our drive from Gulu in Uganda, we encountered an overturned small Noah vehicle. When our law enforcement agencies arrived from the Ugandan side, they discovered it was loaded with smuggled cigarettes,” Akuei revealed.

“This incident serves as a clear indicator of the extent of smuggling occurring across our borders,” he added.

Beatus Nchota, chairperson of the East African Revenue Authorities Technical Committee, reiterated the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges faced by tax administrations in the region.

“We must continue to strengthen our partnerships to tackle the obstacles facing our tax administrations,” Nchota emphasized.

“As the technical backbone of our respective revenue authorities, our unified efforts are crucial for overcoming the issues that impede our collective success,” he assured.

Established in 2018, the NRA is tasked with assessing, collecting, administering, and enforcing laws related to taxation and revenues.

The formation of the NRA is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on oil revenues, bolster the non-oil revenue sector, and fortify expenditure control, all of which are essential for achieving short-term fiscal austerity goals.