Addis Ababa Revenue Bureau Issues New Desk Audit Guidelines

The Addis Ababa Revenue Bureau has unveiled new desk audit guidelines for the 2018 fiscal year to improve tax collection efficiency and transparency. Under the new rules, individuals claiming large undisclosed bank deposits as "Eqqub" (traditional saving) must provide strict documentation, such as signed records and participant lists, or face taxation on the funds as business income. Digital content creators will face a 15% tax deduction on their total earnings, and payment platforms are now mandated to report payments to tax authorities. The directive also targets tax evasion in other sectors, including butchery sales comparisons, construction cost auditing, rental property occupancy disclosures, and car import valuations. The bureau states these measures aim to close loopholes used to under-report income.