Egypt settles 17,000 tax disputes in less than a year

The Egyptian Ministry of Finance has successfully resolved over 17,000 tax disputes valued at more than 15.4 billion pounds within a span of 10 months following the implementation of Law 153 of 2023. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohamed Maait, directed the Tax Authority to swiftly resolve disputes for establishments or companies with a business volume of up to 10 million pounds using the simplified peremptory tax system. The Ministry aims to avoid closing any factory or business and enhance local production and export efforts.

To further streamline tax dispute resolution, the Ministry of Finance is working to develop tax appeal committees, stabilize taxpayer positions, and reduce the backlog of appeals before these committees. This approach is intended to expedite dispute resolution, promote tax justice, and establish governance, transparency, and integrity in tax evaluation principles to create a more attractive environment for investment.

Dr. Mohamed Maait submitted a draft law to the Council of Ministers to renew the law on ending tax disputes and facilitate dispute resolutions until the end of January 2025. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to simplify mechanisms for settling tax disputes outside of the court system to support financiers, stimulate investment, and ensure the state receives its rightful revenues. The Ministry seeks to encourage investors to expand their activities in Egypt and attract both local and foreign investments aligning with the country’s economic reform goals.

Efforts to enhance tax systems include expanding electronic platforms and utilizing artificial intelligence applications to complete tax exams annually. The Ministry aims to enhance the tax system to benefit taxpayers while supporting the country’s economic growth and attracting investments to achieve development goals.