• Burundi launched e-KORI digital platform for online tax filing, payments
• Project aims to boost domestic revenue, reduce reliance on foreign aid
• World Bank-backed rollout targets compliance, governance and transparency

Burundi on Monday launched development of the e-KORI system, a digital platform for online tax filing and the payment of taxes and fees, the government said. The project is being led by the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) with support from the World Bank.

“This is a key step in the country’s digital transformation and will help the government raise more domestic revenue,” Finance, Budget and Digital Economy Minister Alain Ndikumana said. He said the system would reduce reliance on foreign aid by strengthening the state’s ability to finance development projects.

The platform is intended to digitise the collection of internal taxes and non-tax revenue, allowing taxpayers to file declarations and make payments online, track transactions remotely and reduce visits to tax offices. Officials say it should also improve revenue tracking, reduce errors and strengthen tax enforcement.

The move is part of Burundi’s push to modernise public administration and improve financial governance, although domestic revenue mobilisation remains a challenge in an economy where the informal sector is large and tax procedures are seen as complex by some businesses.

Project officials said e-KORI will be rolled out in nine phases, with each deliverable validated before the next stage begins. The plan includes training and awareness sessions for tax officials and taxpayers.

Cybersecurity will be a central focus, with a technical partner responsible for protecting infrastructure, securing data and preventing cyberattacks as governments increasingly digitise public finance systems.

Authorities say the system could broaden the tax base, improve compliance and strengthen budget planning, while also helping to improve the business climate by making tax services more accessible and transparent.

Samira Njoya