Tax - The Africa Tax Review

Tax Sovereignty vs Regional Integration in Africa: Navigating Fiscal Autonomy under AfCFTA. The emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area represents a decisive move toward continental economic integration. By …

EXPERT INSIGHTS

Taxation of Cross-Border Royalties and Intangibles under AfCFTA

May 22, 2026May 16, 2026 - by Olatunji Abdulrazaq - Leave a Comment

Taxation of Cross-Border Royalties and Intangibles under AfCFTA. The growth of knowledge-based industries and digital business models across Africa has elevated the importance of intangibles—such as intellectual property (IP), software, …

EXPERT INSIGHTS

Tax Policy Gaps in the AfCFTA Framework: Implications for Revenue, Compliance, and Continental Integration

May 21, 2026May 16, 2026 - by Olatunji Abdulrazaq - Leave a Comment

Tax Policy Gaps in the AfCFTA Framework. The African Continental Free Trade Area is widely regarded as a transformative legal and economic framework designed to integrate African markets, promote intraAfrican …

EXPERT INSIGHTS

Tax Implications of Tariff Elimination under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

May 20, 2026May 16, 2026 - by Olatunji Abdulrazaq - Leave a Comment

Tax Implications of Tariff Elimination under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The African Continental Free Trade Area represents one of the most ambitious economic integration initiatives globally, designed …

WESTERN AFRICA

Small Companies in Nigeria Still Required to File Returns Under New 0% Tax Rule

November 28, 2025November 28, 2025 - by Jeremiah Amosu - Leave a Comment

Small Companies in Nigeria Still Required to File Returns Under New 0% Tax Rule. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that small companies in Nigeria will still be …

Nigeria: FIRS Announces Three-Day IT Shutdown Ahead of 2026 Tax Compliance Overhaul

WESTERN AFRICA

Nigeria: Banks and Agencies to Enforce Withholding Tax on Short-Term Securities

September 19, 2025September 19, 2025 - by Jeremiah Amosu - Leave a Comment

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued a stern directive to banks, discount houses, stockbrokers, bond issuers, market makers, and government agencies, mandating strict compliance with withholding tax rules …

SOUTHERN AFRICA

South Africa Enhances Tax Accessibility with Sign Language Services

July 25, 2025July 25, 2025 - by Jeremiah Amosu - Leave a Comment

South Africa Enhances Tax Accessibility with Sign Language Services. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the availability of South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters at selected branches, reinforcing …

EASTERN AFRICA

Ugandan Manufacturers and Tax Authority Collaborate to Address Tax Challenges Amid Upcoming Reforms

June 2, 2025June 11, 2025 - by Jeremiah Amosu - Leave a Comment

Ugandan Manufacturers and Tax Authority Collaborate to Address Tax Challenges Amid Upcoming Reforms. In a concerted effort to tackle pressing tax-related challenges, the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and the Uganda …

WESTERN AFRICA

Proposed U.S. Remittance Tax Could Cost African Economies Billions

May 23, 2025May 23, 2025 - by Jeremiah Amosu - Leave a Comment

Proposed U.S. Remittance Tax. A newly introduced bill in the United States could significantly alter the flow of personal remittances to Africa by imposing a 5% excise tax on money …

British American Tobacco Kenya (BAT Kenya) has denied claims of financial discrepancies amounting to KSh 9.6 billion (US$ 93 million) following a recent investigative report that scrutinized the company’s tax records. The report, titled Missing Millions: A Cross-Examination of British American Tobacco Kenya’s Tax Bill, was published by The Investigative Desk in collaboration with the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) and Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA). According to the findings, BAT Kenya may have underreported revenue between 2017 and 2018, potentially leading to a tax shortfall of approximately US$ 28 million. Allegations of Tax Discrepancies The report is based on an in-depth analysis of BAT Kenya’s financial disclosures over six years. Researchers cross-examined the company’s annual reports with production records submitted to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), internal government documents, and market data on cigarette consumption and pricing. Investigators allege a gap of KSh 9.6 billion between BAT Kenya’s declared revenues and estimated earnings based on production and sales data. This shortfall suggests that millions of cigarette packs may have been either unaccounted for or underreported, raising concerns about possible tax avoidance or evasion. “This report should be a wake-up call for Kenyan authorities. If these discrepancies remain unexplained, they could indicate potential tax manipulation,” said Kennedy Waituika, a fraud and internal audit expert. Kenya Updates Tax Exemption Rules for Charitable Organisations BAT Kenya’s Response In a statement, BAT Kenya’s Managing Director, Crispin Achola, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the company fully complies with Kenya’s tax laws and financial reporting standards. “We have thoroughly reviewed the report and found it to be largely speculative, containing numerous errors and misrepresentations of BAT Kenya’s operations,” Achola stated. He emphasized that as a publicly listed company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, BAT Kenya adheres to strict financial disclosure requirements and publishes audited financial statements in line with both local regulations and international reporting standards. Claims of Miscalculations BAT Kenya further criticized the report, arguing that the authors relied on incorrect assumptions when calculating the company’s revenues, profits, and tax obligations. The company claims the report failed to consider deductible costs, applied incorrect cigarette pricing, and disregarded applicable trade margins. Growing Scrutiny on Tobacco Industry Taxation The allegations come at a time when governments worldwide are increasing scrutiny on the tobacco industry’s tax practices, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Tax experts argue that multinational tobacco firms often employ complex corporate structures and transfer pricing mechanisms to minimize tax liabilities, depriving governments of much-needed revenue for public health initiatives. As the debate continues, the findings of the report may prompt further investigations by tax authorities and policymakers into BAT Kenya’s financial practices. The outcome could have significant implications for corporate taxation and regulatory oversight within Kenya’s tobacco industry.

EASTERN AFRICA

BAT Kenya Refutes KSh 9.6 Billion Tax Discrepancy Allegations

February 18, 2025February 18, 2025 - by Jeremiah Amosu - Leave a Comment

British American Tobacco Kenya (BAT Kenya) has denied claims of financial discrepancies amounting to KSh 9.6 billion (US$ 93 million) following a recent investigative report that scrutinized the company’s tax …