Togo: State Fine Revenue Tanks 70% in Q1’ 2025

Economic governance

Friday, 27 June 2025 06:16

Togo: State Fine Revenue Tanks 70% in Q1’ 2025

(Togo First) - Togo's revenue from fines and penalties significantly decreased in the first quarter of 2025. Official data shows the state collected just 110 million CFA francs against an annual forecast of 1.3 billion CFA francs. This represents an 8.73% realization rate. The sharp decline contrasts with the 360 million FCFA collected during the same period in 2024, marking a nearly 70% annual decrease (68.24%).

Specifically, the Tax Office (CI) collected 45.26% less in fines, dropping from 150 million to 80 million FCFA. Concurrently, fines and penalties collected by the Customs and Indirect Tax Office (CDDI) plummeted by over 85%, totaling 30 million FCFA compared to 210 million last year.

This steep drop in collected fines and penalties during the first quarter of 2025 raises questions about a possible softening of Togo's fiscal enforcement policy. The decline could stem from a shift toward education rather than punishment, or a political decision to temporarily ease the burden on taxpayers amid a strained socioeconomic environment. Conversely, it might also indicate a decrease in the effectiveness of detecting and prosecuting tax offenses during this period.

This article was initially written in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Mouka Mezonlin

REFORMS OVERVIEW

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At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

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Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

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Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

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