In a move to prevent misuse and revenue leakages, the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has issued a public notice urging individuals and institutions to stop using outdated financial forms and switch to new customized ones for official transactions.
Speaking to the press on Thursday at the SSRA headquarters, Commissioner Simon Akuei Deng said the authority has observed with concern that some individuals and institutions are still using old financial forms, warning that such a practice is unlawful and unacceptable.
He explained that any transaction carried out using obsolete forms shall be considered null and void and will not be recognized by the SSRA.
“The new customized financial forms equipped with enhanced security features to prevent misuse and revenue leakages are only valid forms recognized for official transactions with SSRA,” Akuei stated. He noted that using old forms amounts to a fraudulent practice punishable by law.
“For public officers, this further attracts disciplinary actions, including dismissal from service,” he further warned.
The SSRA is urging all state revenue offices, administrative units, and government agencies to embrace the new authorized forms.
This move, according to Commissioner Akuei, will protect both the taxpayer and the government from fraud, malpractice, and revenue loss.
“We call upon all stakeholders and the general public to take these notices seriously and ensure full compliance with immediate effect,” Commissioner Akuei appealed.
The push to curb fraudulent practices extends beyond the SSRA, with other government bodies also sounding alarm, with the Directorate of Nationality, Passport, and Immigration highlighted similar illicit schemes that contribute to the loss of state revenue.
Maj. Gen. Elia Costa, the Director General for the directorate, appealed to the public to process forms for nationality, passports, and other documents themselves, without involving intermediaries.
“We want to advise our people, if they want to come and process the document, they should come by themselves; don’t allow anybody to do it on their behalf, because that is the time the forging is happening,” Costa explained.
“You give them the money, instead of going to pay the money to the revenue authority, they pay for the nationality, and then they use another form 15, which is for a passport, so the remaining balance of the money they take it to their pockets.”
Costa added that the directorate has already arrested some personnel involved in such forgery.
