Freetown, 1st June 2026- Sierra Leone’s domestic revenue collection weakened in April 2026, with receipts into the Consolidated Fund dropping sharply compared to March, underscoring persistent fiscal pressures despite ambitious annual targets.
According to the Statement of Fiscal Operations for April 2026, total domestic revenue amounted to SLE 1.46 billion, down from SLE 2.04 billion in March. This brought cumulative collections for the first four months of the year to SLE 5.83 billion, far below the SLE 22.16 billion budgeted for the full year.
Income tax receipts: Fell to SLE 589.65 million in April from SLE 983.02 million in March, contributing SLE 2.42 billion year-to-date against a budget of SLE 8.25 billion.
Goods and Services Tax (GST): Declined slightly to SLE 263.01 million in April, with cumulative receipts of SLE 1.03 billion, well below the SLE 3.86 billion target.
Customs and Excise: Registered SLE 111.82 million in April, up from March’s SLE 100.41 million, but still modest compared to the SLE 5.48 billion annual projection.
Other departmental receipts: Provided a significant boost, totaling SLE 192.56 million in April and SLE 663.65 million year-to-date, surpassing the SLE 142 million budget.
Mineral resources: Recorded no inflows in both March and April, despite a budgeted expectation of SLE 1.29 billion.
External support including foreign grants remained minimal. Grants from international organizations contributed only SLE 5.78 million in April, leaving cumulative foreign grants at the same figure. This is negligible compared to the SLE 3.77 billion budgeted for direct budgetary support.
The shortfall in April highlights the government’s struggle to meet revenue targets amid weak tax compliance and limited external support. With nearly two-thirds of the year remaining, fiscal authorities face mounting pressure to accelerate reforms in tax administration, customs efficiency, and resource mobilization to close the gap.
