FRCS Commemorates National Tax Day
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) celebrated the third National Tax Day today at its Headquarters in Nasese, Suva. This milestone initiative aims to foster national awareness and appreciation for taxation. The event was graced by the Assistant Minister of Finance, Hon. Esrom Immanuel, who officiated as the Chief Guest.
In his address, Hon. Immanuel emphasized that taxation is the lifeblood of any nation. In Fiji, taxes are not merely a fiscal tool but a powerful force driving economic progress, social upliftment, and nation-building.
“Tax revenues fund essential infrastructure—roads, bridges, ports, and public transport—that form the backbone of economic connectivity, trade facilitation, and productivity. These investments attract foreign investment, stimulate local enterprise, and create job opportunities,” he informed the participants.
“Taxes also sustain the delivery of fundamental public services such as healthcare, education, and social protection. These services are critical to building a healthy, skilled, and resilient society.”
Hon. Immanuel applauded FRCS for its significant achievement in transforming its services from fully manual to fully digitized. He also commended FRCS for its proactive efforts to improve taxpayer awareness and understanding through a range of educational initiatives, including public workshops, stakeholder forums, user-friendly publications, and interactive online resources.
“The Compliance Improvement Strategy (CIS) is a laudable step toward promoting voluntary compliance and risk-based enforcement. Together, these initiatives help foster a culture of civic responsibility and fairness, ensuring that our tax system remains transparent, inclusive, and efficient—in service of Fiji’s broader development goals,” he stated.
FRCS has designated 8th May as National Tax Day, commemorating the first recorded tax imposed by individual chiefs in the General Assembly established in Levuka in 1865, as documented by Ronald Derrick in his book ‘A History of Fiji’ (1950). The theme for the 2025 National Tax Day is “Empowering Sustainable Growth through Fair and Collaborative Taxation.”
As part of the Tax Day celebrations, FRCS organized essay competitions for primary and secondary school students to raise awareness about the importance of taxation. Tax education is essential for building financial literacy among students, helping them understand the financial system, manage personal finances, and make informed decisions. All winners of the competition were awarded gift hampers and cash prizes.
FRCS Board Chair, Mr. Malakai Naiyaga, reported that the current total revenue collection from August 2024 to March 2025 stands at $2.281 billion in taxes. FRCS has surpassed the cumulative forecast by $138.9 million or 6%. In comparison, during the same period last year, the collection was around $1.967 billion, which was below the cumulative forecast by $82.8 million or 4%. Consistent monthly revenue growth has played a key role in maintaining a positive variance against the monthly forecast.
Mr. Naiyaga attributed the boost in collection to the favorable cumulative collection of key tax types such as Value Added Tax (VAT), which contributed $1 billion or 45% towards the total collection so far, income taxes contributed $670 million or 29%, trade taxes contributed $391.8 million or 17%, and other taxes and levies contributed $181.3 million or 8% of the tax mix.
FRCS CEO, Mr. Udit Singh, thanked Hon. Immanuel for his inspiring address, stating that his insights had greatly inspired key stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses, educators, and the public, in understanding the role of taxation in building a resilient economy. He also congratulated all winners of the FRCS Tax Day competition and acknowledged all participants who joined in marking this significant event.
Last Updated - May 15, 2025