The Tax Regime in Cameroon and The Responsibilities of Cameroonians Towards Fiscal Tax Allocations

Abstract

This article is aimed at looking at those legal instruments which spells out the statutory duty and substantive practice of collecting fiscal tax revenue in Cameroon. It discusses and looks at revenue generated though the voluminous measures instituted by the state on citizens, individuals and businesses in Cameroon. Since taxation is a civic and an entitled right to pay taxes through legal work, we look at other growth objectives of the state through fiscal revenue generation without creating a vacuum of financial resources as provided under the law. On the basis of statutory, moral and necessity norms of taxation, the article in fulfilling legal authority, brings out the position of the Cameroonian law and other international justifiable laws to reconcile the legal duty to contribute to the financial tax objectives of the state. The Cameroonian fiscal laws have provided the various kinds of measures which state money can be collected but we advisedly recommend sound measures which can be considered without generating painful, excruciating and biting hard harms suffered by Cameroonians which exist in the fiscal revenue collection process. In order to achieve a reputable tax system in Cameroon, the Cameroonian executive must enhance the practice of taxation in all segments of society through the creation and implementation of new tax dues in areas which are not currently being taxed to avoid huge external debts. Such strict implementation must be based on legal and equitable basis to go forward. Besides, tax officials must conceive and implement new taxes which must be fraternal and trust worthy in an effort to strengthen the new taxing items with the old ones. The tax laws passed in Cameroon should be reformed on a timely basis to ensure that, the tax principles produce social change, ambitious and progressive growth challenges without creating excruciating pains. The national interest must not be damaged with high tax rates comparatively. The people must not be robbed through high taxes because the national VAT rate in Nigeria for 2020 will be at 7.5% while Cameroon currently runs a far higher VAT rate. It is our desire that modern and transparent electronic methods of taxation be adopted in Cameroon for the tax payment procedures. This mechanism will reduce tax collection violence in Cameroon. Electronic advancements and technological methods and other matrices if adopted will improve the tax processes in Cameroon. We strongly recommend for the re-improvement and re-acculturation of electronic infrastructure which will not be circumvented by humans for tepid hypocritical measures. Our tax regime must be change focused with many tax payers well oriented on electronic methods on tax payment. Having a salutary tax system must be necessary to avert the prone challenges of revenue generation in Cameroon. As our tax problems cannot be exhaustively solve today, we must keep looking beyond these problems by trying to assert new changes in the tax system or die trying to develop and initiate new reforms.