DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Leads National Drive on Direct Tax Reform
DRC Unveils Direct Tax Reform: Corporate and Personal Income Taxes to Replace Multiple Levies by 2026
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, representing President Félix Tshisekedi, officially launched the national awareness campaign on direct tax reform alongside Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba.
Scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, the reform—introduced under Law No. 23/053 of November 30, 2023—seeks to simplify and modernize the Congolese tax system. It consolidates several existing taxes into just two: the Corporate Tax (IS) and the Personal Income Tax (IRPP).
Key Features of the Reform
Finance Minister Fwamba highlighted that the reform aims to build a fairer, more efficient system, with measures including:
A single annual declaration for individuals
A progressive taxation scale
Withholding on salaries, dividends, and capital gains
A provisional payment system to secure state revenues
He noted that implementation will be guided by strong government leadership, a strategic framework overseen by COREF, and execution managed by the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI).
Economic and Governance Impact
Economists stress that beyond simplifying tax procedures, the reform carries significant economic implications. It is expected to:
Broaden the tax base
Enhance revenue predictability
Reduce tax evasion
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization
Decrease dependence on external financing
Foster a more attractive business climate
A transparent and equitable system, they argue, could also build greater trust between taxpayers and the administration.
Government Commitment
Prime Minister Suminwa underscored the importance of boosting revenue mobilization to sustainably finance the government’s development agenda. She called on the DGI to treat this awareness campaign as a partnership tool with economic operators, encouraging the smooth adoption of the new tax rules.
The launch ceremony brought together government officials, private sector representatives, technical partners, and civil society, signaling a strong commitment to implementing the reform collaboratively.
Authorities reaffirmed that this initiative is central to modernizing taxation, strengthening financial governance, and improving the well-being of the Congolese people.
