Freetown, 26th February 2026 — The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), with support from the European Union (EU) through the Linpico Consortium, has officially launched the 2026 Taxpayer Perception Survey, a nationwide exercise designed to assess taxpayers’ experiences, trust in tax administration, and perceptions of fairness in Sierra Leone’s tax system.
The survey, which will run from 2nd – 31st March 2026, will be conducted by trained teams engaging directly with taxpayers across the country. All responses will be treated as strictly confidential, with findings expected to inform tax policy reforms, strengthen accountability, and build public confidence in the system.
Speaking at the launch, Abu Bakarr Kamara, National Coordinator of BAN, emphasized that the survey is not about fault-finding but about understanding businesses and improving revenue generation.
“We want fair taxation and voluntary tax payment. This cannot happen without credible information from businesses. That is why we urge our enumerators to treat this not just as a job but as a national service,” he said.
Maurice Ochieng, Team Leader of the Linpico Consortium implementing the EU’s State and Resilience Building Contract (SRBC) Project in Sierra Leone, highlighted the importance of independent data collection.
“For national development, we need domestic resource mobilization. While the NRA is responsible, it is important to have an independent entity like BAN conduct this survey. Credibility of the data is key, and we will ensure the right analysis is done to help improve tax compliance,” he noted.
Representing the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Philip Kargbo, Director of Research and Planning, welcomed the initiative. He explained that the last taxpayer perception survey was conducted in 2019, but this independent exercise will provide valuable insights into reforms implemented since then.
“We need to understand if taxpayers appreciate reforms such as ASYCUDA++, electronic cash registers, and the customs electronic window, and how these affect businesses. This survey will help us in that direction,” he said, stressing the need for enumerators to remain professional and objective.
The 2026 survey is expected to generate credible data that will guide improvements in tax administration, enhance voluntary compliance, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s domestic revenue mobilization efforts.
