The Egyptian Chambers of Commerce have reported a significant increase in requests to close old tax files, with 110,000 applications received. This development comes as part of the government's efforts to improve the business climate and attract investments. Ahmed El-Wakil, head of the General Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, emphasized the importance of building trust between taxpayers and the Ministry of Finance.
El-Wakil made these statements during a meeting at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, attended by Dr. Rami Youssef, assistant minister of finance for tax policies and development, and other ministry officials. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to improve the tax system and address the concerns of the business community. El-Wakil highlighted that the current phase focuses on establishing a new partnership between the government and the private sector.
According to El-Wakil, the business community has long called for rebuilding trust with the tax and customs authorities, which is essential for improving the investment environment. He noted that the government has implemented over 1,000 reform measures, many of which were proposed by the Chambers of Commerce. These measures aim to alleviate the burden on taxpayers and restore their confidence in the system.
The first package of tax incentives and facilitations, launched in April 2025, included 20 measures that have yielded positive results. These measures have led to the submission of 450,000 amended or new tax returns and the addition of 53,000 new taxpayers to the system by June 2025. Moreover, tax revenues have increased without imposing new burdens on taxpayers.
El-Wakil praised the significant progress made in the real estate tax system, which is now characterized by digitalization, simplified procedures, and reduced human intervention. He also highlighted the introduction of electronic services that enable taxpayers to submit returns, pay debts, and request exemptions without visiting tax offices.
Furthermore, El-Wakil suggested introducing discounts or benefits for taxpayers who have consistently paid their real estate taxes over the years. He also proposed extending the period for benefiting from tax incentives to give the business community more time to comply with regulations and expand the base of voluntary compliance.
Dr. Rami Youssef, assistant minister of finance, affirmed the ministry's commitment to listening to the concerns of the Chambers of Commerce and studying them. He announced that the real estate tax electronic platform is being continuously evaluated and developed based on feedback from the business community to simplify procedures and keep pace with digital transformation.
Key points
- The Egyptian Chambers of Commerce have received 110,000 requests to close old tax files.
- 53,000 new taxpayers have joined the system.
- The government has implemented over 1,000 reform measures to improve the tax system.
