LRA Launches Digital Tax Training for Staff

Enhancing Tax Administration Through Digital Transformation

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has initiated a comprehensive refresher training program for its staff stationed at Tax Business Offices (TBOs) across the country. This effort is being led by the LRA’s Management Information Systems (MIS) Division, with the primary goal of enhancing the technical skills and knowledge of frontline employees.

The training focuses on the efficient use of the Liberia Integrated Tax Administration System (LITAS), which has recently been upgraded to include mobile tax payment features. These enhancements aim to make the process of tax filing and payments more accessible and user-friendly for both the government and taxpayers.

The training kicked off at the Marshall TBO in Margibi on Thursday, August 21, and includes hands-on sessions covering various aspects of tax administration. Participants are learning about processes such as tax filing, assessments, payments, in-field collections, online taxpayer submissions, and revenue collection reconciliation with banks.

This initiative is part of the Governance Reform and Accountability Transformation (GREAT) Project, which is funded by the World Bank. The project aims to modernize public administration by integrating technology and driving institutional reforms. By doing so, it seeks to improve government efficiency, enhance transparency, and deliver better services to Liberians.

During the opening session, Derek A. Hill, the IT Project Coordinator at the LRA, highlighted that this training marks another significant step in the Authority’s digital transformation journey. He explained that the updated system makes tax payments easier, faster, and more transparent. The system is designed to be mobile-compatible, allowing access through both smartphones and computers, offering greater flexibility and convenience for users.

Mr. Hill also mentioned that the integration with mobile money companies enables taxpayers to receive instant receipts upon completing transactions. Currently, seven out of nine commercial banks in Liberia are connected to the system, with the remaining two expected to join soon.

A key benefit of this upgrade is that TBO staff will no longer need to submit manual or unprocessed reports to the head office. Instead, they can now generate and submit reports directly from their locations, ensuring accurate and timely data that reflects real-time performance.

Taxpayers will also receive transaction confirmations via SMS from both their mobile service providers and the LRA, including electronic receipt numbers for their records. This feature enhances transparency and provides a clear record of all financial interactions.

“This is about efficiency, accountability, transparency, and growth,” Mr. Hill said. “We are working closely with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to ensure that by September 1, manual reporting and unprocessed numbers will be a thing of the past at TBOs that have received the training.”

Over the past year, the LRA has made significant strides in automating tax processes. By leveraging digital transformation and technology, the Authority has aimed to close revenue gaps, build stronger trust with taxpayers, and support national development efforts. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to achieve an annual revenue target of USD one billion.

Through these initiatives, the LRA continues to demonstrate its commitment to modernizing tax administration and improving the overall economic landscape in Liberia.