Amid increased hardship and unemployment coupled with high transport and food costs, the Government of Liberia continues to impose taxes and charges on millions of Liberians, most of whom are jobless and working poor, including thousands of civil servants.
Last year 2025, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) increased goods tax and service tax from 10% to 12%. This year 2026, they have increased it again from 12% to 13% as of May 1, 2026; creating more economic burden on businesses and consumers, especially struggling Liberian consumers who barely afford. In less than two years now, goods tax and service tax have “unreasonably” increased by 3% amid rising prices, sticky wages, and high unemployment.
Speaking to Verity News, a tax analyst said, “The government is creating more suffering. This is not how to generate revenues for a 1.2 billion budget. More people are going to suffer. More businesses are going to close down. LRA and MFDP cannot keep increasing taxes in the midst of the prevailing economic crisis where petrol prices are high and even most government workers earn around $150. Think about the millions of people who are unemployed in Liberia. During this time, the government should even provide incentives including stimulus packages for businesses and struggling households. Instead they keep imposing taxes. Politically, this could cost them a lot. The people keep saying they are suffering and no one seems to be listening. All they do is to keep imposing taxes. This is wrong.”
More details to follow.
