In April 2016, Haïti Priorise held its eleventh sector expert roundtable to discuss the best solutions for fiscal management and resource mobilization. Roundtable participants were asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current policy efforts and to propose actions they think should be prioritized as a means to improve fiscal management and resource mobilization in Haiti.

1. Fiscal Management
& Resource
Mobilization
Research Ideas
Port-au-Prince
April 2016

2. Working with 30-50 economists including Nobel Laureates, 100+ sector experts,
government, donor organizations, civil society, development agencies, businesses,
youth, across rural and urban areas to identify, analyze and prioritize interventions
that will deliver greater benefit per gourde spent, helping move Haiti towards a
more prosperous long term future.

3. Copenhagen Consensus
Center organized roundtable
discussions with an aim to
figure out smarter solutions to
the most problematic issues
facing Haiti.
These roundtables are
one of several sources
for research ideas.

4. Research Ideas

5. Widening the tax base;
(1 of 3)
• Establish an ongoing professional development
program in collaboration with the OMRH to train 1) DGI
employees and ministerial managers on tax policy and
taxation, leadership, management and IT; 2) mayors on
management of public revenue and accounting); and 3)
newly elected representatives.
• Update laws on tax rights.
• Set up a computer system to collect data in order to
reduce duplication of data.
• Align the relationship between MEF and municipal
councils.
• Establish “user fees” for water, waste and electricity.

6. Widening the tax base;
(2 of 3)
• Eliminate the customs/tax exemptions; limit the power
to grant exemptions to the MEF.
• EDH: Eliminate government subsidies; Install meters in
every house; improve the billing.
• Create independent, internal audit departments within
each ministry.
• Eliminate tax exemptions to the private sector.
• Conduct a census so that DGI have a more accurate
estimate of the tax collection potential.
• Public awareness campaign on paying taxes to increase
voluntary compliance.
• Establish standards for companies.

7. Widening the tax base;
(3 of 3)
• Establish concrete and annual targets for the DGI.
• Make an inventory of properties in each municipality.
• Eliminate exemptions for donors.
• Establish a billing system at the municipal level.
• Improve customer relations at DGI and make the tax
payment system more “user-friendly”.
• Formalize the informal sector.
• Widen the tax base by providing technical training in
high demand fields. This also reduces “informal” sector
jobs.
• Strengthen the capacity of the DGI : digitize all DGI
offices and equip all tax inspectors.

8. Tax evasion;
(1 of 2)
• Implement punitive laws.
• Establish incentives to increase voluntary compliance.
• Raise awareness for voluntary compliance and punitive
measures for tax evasion and fraud.
• Encourage participatory budgeting at the municipal
level.
• Regulate the state officials, especially those working in
the tax department.
• Encourage auditors to do their job: Provide training;
increase their remuneration.
• Ensure the physical security of taxpayers.

9. Tax evasion;
(2 of 2)
• To increase voluntary compliance : Choose an industry,
offer a seminar for 200 persons; conduct an audit of 20
businesses; penalize the perpetrators; disseminate
results throughout media channels.

10. Fiscal policy as an instrument for
reducing socioeconomic inequalities;
(1 of 1)
• Maintain the tax on petroleum products.
• Reduce the budget allocation to Parliament.
• Require administrative account at the municipal level.
• Strengthen the capacity of the CSCCA and change its
role so that it can review contracts and undertake
audits.
• Carry out an audit of SONAPI.
• Establish a system for monitoring and evaluating action
plans.
• Stop the practice of having off-budget budget.

11. For more information www.HaitiPriorise.com