In a strategic move aimed at bolstering revenue growth and fostering cooperation, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has extended its tax education and awareness to the National Rice Federation of Liberia (NRFL).

Organized by the LRA’s Taxpayer Advocate Service Unit (TASU), the September 27 event addressed several issues pertaining to the rights, privileges, and tax responsibilities of rice farmers and the broader agricultural sector. Topics covered included protest and objection procedures, tax return filing and refund processes, customs valuation, and taxes pertinent to agriculture. The one-day event brought farmers together at the Ministry of Agriculture, housed at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

TASU actively champions the rights and interests of taxpayers, acting as their voices within the LRA. Its primary mission is to resolve challenges encountered by taxpayers while ensuring that all interactions adhere to the principles of fairness, transparency, and professionalism in accordance with the Liberia Revenue Code.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Paul Hinneh, Chief Legal Counsel of the LRA, expressed his appreciation to the NRFL for their collaboration. He urged all participants to leverage the Authority’s Taxpayer Advocate Service platform to seek proper remedies to challenges they face as taxpayers.

Mr. Ernest J. Clarke, Assistant Agriculture Minister for Administration, commended the LRA’s tax education initiative, emphasizing its pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity and revenue growth. He underscored the significance of tax payments as a means of supporting national development and the livelihoods of rice farmers. Mr. Clarke urged rice farmers to embrace their tax payment obligations as a fundamental contribution to the overall development of the nation.

Mr. Mohamad Kamara, President of NRFL, hailed the event as a significant stride towards educating rice farmers about tax processes, duty-free privileges, and their required obligations. He advocated for the decentralization of similar tax education initiatives across the nation to ensure that a larger number of farmers are well-informed about their rights and tax responsibilities.