South Sudan Tax: ‘Digital First’ Strategy to Combat Revenue Leakages

By Kei Emmanuel Duku
South Sudan is overhauling its domestic resource mobilization through an aggressive digital transformation, aiming to plug revenue leakages and modernize a tax system long hampered by manual inefficiencies.
The strategic pivot toward electronic systems is being spearheaded by the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA), the nation’s sole institution responsible for mobilizing domestic resources. Chol Paul Kur, the Commissioner of Domestic Taxes at the SSRA, emphasized that the transition is critical for meeting national revenue targets.
“Once it is digitized as they put it, we appreciate it increase efficiency and effectiveness of the revenue collection,” Kur stated. He explained that by moving toward digital platforms, the authority will be better positioned to generate revenue from various streams, including work permits and e-visas. “Revenue stream of work permit when it is digitized as it is now, we will achieve revenue collection efficiently because of the digitalization process they have made so far.”
Despite the optimism, the commissioner noted that the path to a fully digital landscape is fraught with structural hurdles. The primary obstacles identified include a deficit in ICT infrastructure and a lack of specialized personnel capable of navigating high-tech electronic procedures.
“The biggest challenge I know in digitalization process is ICT infrastructure and the procedures that are electronically, they may need high technical people to handle that one,” Kur observed.
He further noted that the lack of proper or trained staff makes training a “key for digitalization process and infrastructure itself.” To address issues such as internet accessibility and connectivity, the SSRA is actively involving the National Communication Authority (NCA) to support the rollout of e-government services.
The authority has already seen early success with the implementation of e-tax and electronic work permit services, which Kur says are already helping to mobilize resources more efficiently. While he cautioned that digital transformation is “not something that can be achieved overnight,” the expansion beyond the capital is already underway. Currently, the SSRA maintains head offices in every state to manage tax collection, and seven of these offices have already been successfully digitized.
“We have already now deployed the training staff to manage the collection process over there,” Kur said. “The other areas we did not reach, we will be moving to them slowly as the process goes.”
Beyond the technical shift, the commissioner underscored the fundamental role of taxation in national survival. He reminded citizens that the government’s ability to function is entirely dependent on available resources, which can only be secured through public compliance.
“There is no government in the world that operates with no resources,” Kur stated. “The message to the citizens of the country is that you pay your taxes so that the government will be in position to deliver the required services by the public.”
Kur concluded by framing tax payments as a form of social contract rather than a mere obligation. “Your tax you pay is an investment in terms of service delivery. So, it will be given back to you in terms of service by the government.”
The shift toward a digital first strategy in South Sudan comes at a critical juncture for the nation’s economy, which has historically relied on oil for approximately 90% of its national budget.
The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) was established to centralize and professionalize this process, moving away from fragmented, manual systems that were often prone to human error and lack of transparency.
Central to this modernization is the e-tax system, a digital platform designed to automate tax filings and payments, thereby reducing physical points of contact that previously facilitated revenue leakages.
This digital transformation is part of a broader Public Financial Management (PFM) reform agenda supported by international partners. By digitizing work permits, e-visas, and corporate taxes, the SSRA aims to create a more predictable fiscal environment.
Despite challenges in the nation’s ICT infrastructure and a need for specialized technical training, the successful connection of seven regional offices to the digital grid marks a significant step in the government’s plan to fund public services through a transparent, domestic-led financial model.