Cameroon’s Tax Deadline Surge Sparks Fears, But System Holds Strong
As the year draws to a close, Cameroon is witnessing a last-minute scramble as taxpayers rush to meet the income tax deadline. Over 20,000 declarations were pouring into the system daily throughout last weekend, putting immense pressure on the Director General of Taxes (DGI) infrastructure.
This surge in activity, fueled by a December 2nd deadline for Personal Income Tax (Irpp) declarations, had many worried about system overload. At its peak, nearly 60,000 Cameroonians attempted to access the online platform every day between Friday and Sunday.
"These latest generation servers can absorb this flow, and almost a million verifications are already done online," assures a DGI official.
Concerns about a potential system collapse were ultimately unfounded.
The DGI has assured the public that, «contrary to the rumor that has circulated in the last few days, the system works well and is secure."
Adding to these reassurances, the DGI call center reported fielding an average of 1,000 calls daily from taxpayers seeking information. This high volume of calls further highlights the commitment of Cameroonian citizens to fulfilling their tax obligations.
The reintroduction of the Irpp this year, focusing on individuals owning property or receiving non-taxable income, is part of a broader movement towards dematerialization and digitalization in Cameroon. This move aims to create a fairer tax system, distributing the burden more equitably beyond businesses.
Originally set for June 30th, the Irpp deadline has seen several extensions, shifting to September 30th, then December 1st, before finally settling on December 3rd. Recognizing the pressure this deadline created on individuals who lost loved ones, the Ministry of Finance (Minfi) granted an extra week of grace, pushing the final deadline to December 9th. Those affected by bereavement will be exempt from the usual penalties associated with late filings.
The situation in Cameroon highlights the universal challenge of reconciling technological advancements with timely citizen engagement in complex processes like tax filing.
