Burundi has launched a new digital platform aimed at modernising tax declaration and payment, as authorities seek to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and reduce reliance on external financing.
The e-KORI system was officially rolled out on Monday in the capital, Bujumbura, marking the start of the implementation phase of a project led by the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) with financial and technical support from the World Bank.
The platform allows taxpayers to declare and pay taxes and fees online, replacing paper-based procedures that have long been criticised as slow, opaque and costly. Authorities say the system will cover both tax and non-tax revenues and is designed to improve efficiency, transparency and compliance.
Finance, Budget and Digital Economy Minister Alain Ndikumana said the initiative was part of a broader effort to transform public administration and strengthen the state’s capacity to mobilise its own resources.
“The implementation of such a system represents a crucial step in the digital transformation of our country,” Ndikumana said at the launch ceremony. He added that e-KORI would help Burundi finance development projects using domestic resources rather than relying almost exclusively on external aid.
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The government has identified domestic revenue mobilisation as a key challenge, particularly in an economy dominated by informality. Tax collection remains low by regional standards, constrained by limited taxpayer registration, complex procedures and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Officials say e-KORI aims to address some of these constraints by digitalising the entire domestic revenue collection chain. Through the platform, taxpayers can submit declarations, make payments, track transactions remotely and receive confirmations without physically visiting tax offices.
The authorities also expect the system to reduce errors, limit opportunities for fraud and strengthen tax controls by improving traceability and data availability. Reduced face-to-face interactions between taxpayers and officials could also help curb corruption, officials said.
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The launch of e-KORI comes as Burundi steps up reforms to modernise public financial management and governance. In recent years, the government has introduced measures to improve budget transparency, strengthen expenditure controls and align public finance systems with international standards, often with support from development partners.
Despite these efforts, expanding the tax base remains difficult in a country where a large share of economic activity takes place outside the formal sector. Many businesses and individuals still operate without registration, limiting the state’s ability to collect revenues.
Project officials said e-KORI would be rolled out in nine phases, with each stage subject to validation before the next phase begins. The implementation plan also includes training and awareness programmes for tax officials and taxpayers to support adoption of the new system.
Cybersecurity has been identified as a priority, given the sensitivity of financial and personal data handled by the platform. Authorities said a technical partner has been tasked with ensuring infrastructure protection, data security and cyber-risk prevention, amid growing concerns over digital vulnerabilities in public finance systems.
Over the longer term, the government expects the system to help broaden the tax base, improve compliance and support more accurate budget planning. By providing real-time data on revenue flows, the platform could strengthen the state’s capacity to forecast revenues and manage public spending more effectively.
Officials also say the digitalisation of tax services could improve the business environment by simplifying procedures and reducing administrative costs for companies. Improved access to services and more predictable interactions with the tax administration could help build trust between the state and economic actors, they added.
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The World Bank has backed similar digital tax initiatives in other low-income and developing countries, arguing that technology can play a critical role in improving revenue performance and governance when combined with institutional reforms.
In Burundi, authorities say e-KORI is intended to support the country’s broader ambition to build a more efficient, transparent and digitally enabled state, while strengthening fiscal autonomy in a challenging economic environment.
