CCIMA pushes 22 fiscal reform proposals to ease business climate.

The proposals were presented during a consultation between the Chamber and private sector operators, held recently at CCIMA headquarters in Bonanjo, Douala This came ahead of discussions with the Directorate General of Taxation. 

The meeting also sought to consolidate the concerns of economic operators before the drafting of the next Finance Law. Presenting the document, fiscal expert, Barrister Tchoffo Alphonse, said the recommendations seek to address practical difficulties faced by businesses, while preserving government's revenue mobilisation objectives.

Among the key proposals is the introduction of a 12 to 18-month transition period for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, to comply with the new requirement on the Electronic Accounting File, known by its French acronym, FEC. 

He explained that many SMEs lack accounting software capable of producing the prescribed electronic formats and could therefore face severe sanctions despite acting in good faith.

The Chamber also proposed capping the accumulation of automatic fines for late tax declarations and introducing a waiver mechanism for taxpayers making their first default or those who voluntarily regularise their situation within a short period.

Another major recommendation concerns the Tax Compliance Certificate, known by its French abbreviation, ACF. The Chamber argued that making the certificate compulsory for access to services such as passports, land titles, vehicle registration and utility subscriptions could create unnecessary administrative barriers for citizens engaged in tax disputes or regularisation procedures. It therefore recommended limiting the requirement mainly to economic and commercial transactions.

The consultation further called for greater flexibility regarding the fraudulent use of the Unique Taxpayer Identification Number, NIU. Rather than requiring only a court decision to prove innocence, the Chamber proposed allowing taxpayers to demonstrate good faith by showing evidence that they verified the NIU through the official tax administration portal before conducting a transaction.

Other recommendations include simplifying procedures for business closure, refunding unused tax credits under the General Synthetic Tax regime in specific circumstances, reducing compliance costs for large companies, strengthening safeguards on taxpayers' data, extending deadlines for correcting financial statements, introducing transition periods when businesses change tax regimes, and reviewing environmental taxes affecting the construction sector.

Business operators seek practical reforms

Speaking after the meeting, the President of the Services Section of the Chamber of Commerce, Frédéric Djeuhon, said although the Chamber had identified 22 proposals, discussions with the tax administration would help determine those that should receive priority.

He noted that the objective is to ensure operators are able to create wealth while enabling government to collect more revenue.

"If there is no wealth, there can be no taxation," he said, stressing that businesses must operate in a favourable environment for the State to effectively mobilise taxes needed to finance public services.

Djeuhon added that previous consultations between the private sector and tax authorities had already yielded positive results, with several proposals from economic operators reflected in recent fiscal reforms.

While acknowledging that not every recommendation would necessarily be adopted, he expressed satisfaction with the growing dialogue between government and the private sector, describing it as beneficial to both taxpayers and the State.

Merchants call for stronger digital infrastructure

For Alice Maguedjo, President of Merchants at Mboppi Market, improving digital infrastructure should be treated as an immediate priority if government's digitalisation agenda is to succeed.

She said taxpayers continue to experience frequent disruptions when filing declarations electronically because of recurring system failures and unreliable electricity supply.

According to her, investing in stronger digital infrastructure, stable electricity and reliable internet connectivity is essential to ensure that tax digitalisation delivers its intended benefits.

Maguedjo also called for more training seminars to familiarise traders with the General Synthetic Tax regime and its declaration requirements, saying many operators still lack sufficient understanding of their obligations.

She noted that while discussions on tax rates remain important, improving taxpayers' understanding of the system and ensuring digital platforms function efficiently would significantly improve voluntary compliance.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3836 of Friday July 03, 2026