Government Targets D37.4 Billion in 2027 Revenue, Banking on VAT, Excise and Customs

By Staff Writer

The Gambia government is targeting D37.39 billion in government revenue in 2027, a 16.1 percent increase from the D32.20 billion approved for 2026, with the government relying heavily on customs duties, value-added tax, and excise taxes to drive the increase.

Tax revenue is projected to account for D31.47 billion of the total, while non-tax revenue is expected to contribute D5.92 billion.

The targets represent a significant increase over actual collections in 2025, when total government revenue stood at D29.87 billion, including D23.20 billion in tax receipts. The 2027 tax target is about 36 percent higher than the amount collected in 2025.

Customs and other import duties are expected to remain the largest single source of tax revenue, generating D8.01 billion, an increase of 12.3 percent.

Domestic value-added tax is projected at D3.51 billion, up 21.9 percent. VAT collected on imports is expected to contribute another D5.91 billion, comprising D2.45 billion from oil imports and D3.46 billion from non-oil goods.

Excise tax collections are projected to rise sharply to D3.57 billion, an increase of 25.6 percent.

The government also expects to collect D6.06 billion in corporate income tax, up 7 percent, while personal income tax revenue is projected at D2.87 billion, an increase of 17.5 percent.

One of the steepest increases is expected in payroll tax, although it remains a relatively small source of government revenue. Collections are projected to jump from D69 million to D302 million in 2027.

Non-tax revenue is forecast at D5.92 billion, representing an increase of about 14 percent, with administrative fees accounting for much of the projected collections. Revenue from fishing licences and registration fees is expected to rise from D108 million to D145 million.

Overall, government revenue is projected to reach 16.04 percent of gross domestic product in 2027, compared with 15.67 percent previously projected. Tax revenue alone is expected to account for about 13.5 percent of GDP.

The figures indicate that meeting the government’s D37.39 billion revenue target will depend substantially on stronger collections from imports, consumption taxes, and income taxes.