DRC Keeps Digital Tax Decree in Force, Exempts Start-Ups
The clarification was issued on August 6 in Kinshasa following a working session between Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba and representatives of the country’s digital ecosystem.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed that its new tax regime for the digital sector will remain in force, while clarifying that eligible start-ups are exempt from the levies introduced under the measure.
The clarification was issued on August 6 in Kinshasa following a working session between Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba and representatives of the country’s digital ecosystem. The meeting followed concerns from digital sector stakeholders over an interministerial order adopted on July 20.
The order establishes taxes, duties and fees applicable to a range of digital activities in the DRC. However, representatives of the sector said the minister confirmed that start-ups would not be subject to the charges outlined in the decree.
The exemption is linked to the special legal framework for technology start-ups under the DRC’s Digital Code. Article 384 provides eligible digital start-ups with entrepreneurial status access to tax, parafiscal, customs and foreign-exchange incentives provided under legislation governing entrepreneurship and start-ups.
The government’s clarification follows a temporary suspension of the order on August 1 after several days of protests. Entrepreneurs, online media organisations and other digital sector players had raised concerns that the new tax obligations could place additional pressure on an ecosystem that is still developing.
The authorities subsequently sought to address what they described as potential confusion and misinterpretation surrounding the measure. Following the August 6 consultations, the government confirmed that the decree remains applicable, with the start-up exemption representing a key clarification on its scope.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of an already significant tax burden on digital services in the DRC. A 2025 report by the GSMA highlighted a 16% value-added tax (VAT), a 10% excise tax on mobile services, a 2% contribution to the universal service fund and a 3.6% RAM fee.
The GSMA warned that the accumulation of these charges could affect the affordability of digital services and potentially slow progress on digital inclusion in the country.
The latest clarification leaves the broader digital sector tax regime in place while shielding qualifying start-ups from the new levies. The move is intended to preserve the incentives available to young technology companies while allowing the government to pursue additional revenue from the country’s expanding digital economy.
