(Juba) – The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has launched a comprehensive door to door taxpayer registration exercise across Juba City, as part of a wider strategy to expand the country’s tax base, enhance compliance and improve public revenue systems.
The initiative was officially announced by the SSRA Commissioner General, Hon. Simon Akuei Deng, who stated that the city has been divided into ten distinct zones. This zoning, he explained, is intended to streamline the registration process and enable better monitoring of tax compliance across all segments of the economy.
The campaign targets a broad spectrum of economic actors, including formal and informal businesses, service providers, and self-employed individuals operating in the capital. SSRA officials will visit individual premises to register eligible taxpayers, verify business activities, and collect data critical to future tax administration efforts.
According to Mr Akuei, the primary goal of the programme is to create an up-to-date and comprehensive database of all active taxpayers in Juba. This data will support strategic planning within the SSRA, including decision-making aimed at strengthening service delivery and improving efficiency in tax collection.
“This initiative is crucial in enhancing our capacity to identify taxpayers, monitor compliance, and deliver public services more effectively,” said Akuei. “It will also help us reduce tax evasion and bring more businesses into the formal economy.”
He further clarified that the initiative is not only about enforcement but also about building a fairer and more predictable tax environment that supports national development. The SSRA aims to use the information gathered to tailor its support services to taxpayers’ needs and ensure more transparent administration.
The campaign also comes with a strong warning from the Commissioner General. Mr Akuei cautioned the public against any unauthorised fee collection or impersonation of SSRA officials during the registration exercise. He stressed that such acts are illegal and will be reported to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
“Only authorised SSRA officers will be involved in this process. Any individual found collecting fees illegally or pretending to be from the SSRA will face legal action,” he warned.
Juba, South Sudan’s economic and political centre, has long struggled with informal business operations and low compliance with tax laws. Many small-scale traders and service providers operate without registration, contributing to a limited revenue base for the government. The door-to-door registration campaign aims to address this challenge directly by reaching businesses that might otherwise avoid formal registration.
While the SSRA has not yet disclosed the cost of the initiative, some residents have raised concerns about the potential impact on small businesses and whether support mechanisms will be provided for those newly entering the tax system.
If effectively implemented, the initiative could significantly boost domestic revenue mobilisation in a country still rebuilding its public institutions and economy. In South Sudan, where public service delivery has often been constrained by low tax revenue and reliance on oil, efforts to improve internal resource generation are seen as critical.
As of June 2025, the official exchange rate stands at 4,650 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to 1 US Dollar, while the parallel market places the rate closer to 7,000 SSP. With many businesses still operating in cash and often outside formal banking systems, the registration drive could also provide a pathway for greater financial inclusion.