FRCS successfully hosted its first Tax Agents Forum for the 2026/2027 Financial Year, bringing together tax professionals and FRCS representatives for a productive and engaging dialogue on the future of tax administration, compliance, and professional standards in Fiji.

Opening the forum, Director Tax, Ms. Momina Beg, acknowledged the critical role tax agents play within Fiji’s tax system and thanked them for their ongoing partnership with FRCS.

“Tax agents are the vital bridge between FRCS and the taxpayer community. You turn complex statutory legislation and numbers into practical compliance, and we want to express our deepest gratitude for your continued partnership,” Ms. Beg said.

The forum provided an important platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and discussion on key developments that will shape the tax landscape in Fiji.

A key highlight of the programme was the presentation of the Tax Agents Board (TAB) Draft Strategic Plan and Framework by FRCS Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Udit Singh. Mr. Singh outlined the Board’s strategic direction for the next three years, which focuses on strengthening the regulation, professionalism, and credibility of Fiji’s tax agent profession.

He explained that the draft plan seeks to position the Tax Agents Board as a modern, transparent, and risk-based regulator while recognising the evolving role of tax agents in supporting taxpayers, improving the quality of tax reporting, and promoting voluntary compliance.

“The strategy responds to stakeholder expectations for clearer standards, stronger professional support, enhanced engagement, and greater transparency,” Mr. Singh said.

He added that the Board’s vision is for registration as a Fiji Tax Agent to become a trusted mark of competence, integrity, accountability, and professional excellence, further strengthening public confidence in the profession and supporting high standards across the industry.

The forum also featured a presentation by Director Corporate Services and Chief of Staff, Mr. Shavindra Nath, who provided an overview of the strategic priorities and key tax policy changes introduced under the National Budget 2026/27. Participants were also briefed on initiatives aimed at supporting seamless compliance by Senior Manager Tax Compliance, Ms. Artika Sharma.

The highly interactive forum encouraged robust discussion and active participation, with attendees taking advantage of the question-and-answer session to share insights, raise concerns, and explore opportunities for greater collaboration.

Well, attended and positively received, the forum reaffirmed FRCS’s commitment to working closely with tax agents and other stakeholders to build a stronger, more transparent, and more efficient tax administration system that benefits all Fijians.

FRCS continues to strengthen its community outreach efforts by bringing essential services directly to residents in remote and highland areas, ensuring greater access for those who may face challenges travelling to urban centres.

Recently, the FRCS Ba team conducted TIN and Joint Card registration programmes in Navilawa Village and Korobebe Village, providing residents with the opportunity to access these important services within their own communities. Recognising the unique needs of the villages, the team also went beyond the designated registration sites, visiting elderly residents in their homes to assist those who were unable to attend.

The initiative was particularly meaningful for Navilawa Village, as it marked the first-ever on-site visit by FRCS to the community. The Turaga-ni-Koro and villagers welcomed the outreach, highlighting the difficulties many residents face due to limited transportation options, rising travel costs, and the absence of regular bus services, especially for senior citizens.

By helping residents obtain their TIN and Joint Cards, FRCS has enabled greater access to a range of government services, including social welfare assistance. This outreach reflects FRCS’s commitment to serving communities where they are, fostering stronger connections with the public and ensuring that essential services remain accessible to all Fijians, regardless of location.

Congratulations to our 20 officers who successfully completed the Financial Investigative Techniques (FIT) Course, delivered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the United States Embassy in Fiji.

The intensive week-long programme provided participants with valuable knowledge and practical skills in financial crime investigations, including money laundering detection and asset tracing. Expert IRS instructors led participants through interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and hands-on exercises designed to strengthen investigative capabilities and enhance the detection and prevention of financial crimes.

Key areas covered during the course included:

• Money laundering
• Collecting and analysing financial records
• Interviewing techniques for financial investigators
• Financial investigation practical exercises

The highly engaging and collaborative training equipped officers with advanced investigative tools and methodologies that will further support FRCS in combating financial crime and protecting the integrity of Fiji’s financial system.

FRCS extends its sincere appreciation to the IRS and the United States Embassy in Fiji for their continued support and commitment to advancing financial investigative capabilities within the organisation.

FRCS continues to expand its taxpayer education efforts through strategic radio engagements designed to help businesses improve their record-keeping and tax reporting practices.

Recently, Senior Education Specialists Esala Vukinavanua and Joshua Singh, together with Education Specialist Monika Ram, participated in popular FBC’s radio talk-back programmes to share practical guidance on maintaining accurate business records and meeting tax obligations.

The programmes provided listeners with valuable insights into the vital role record keeping plays in successful business management and tax compliance. Topics discussed included:

• The importance of maintaining accurate and complete business records.
• Record-keeping requirements for tax reporting purposes
• FRCS expectations regarding record retention
• Key tax reporting obligations for businesses
• Compliance standards expected by FRCS
• Risks and consequences associated with inadequate record keeping.
• Practical tips and best practices for maintaining records and submitting reports.
• Support services available through FRCS to assist taxpayers.

The sessions generated strong public interest, with listeners actively participating and raising questions on various tax-related matters. The FRCS team addressed these enquiries live on air, providing clear explanations and practical advice to help taxpayers better understand their responsibilities.

These radio appearances form part of FRCS’s broader commitment to making tax information accessible to all Fijians. Through regular engagement across multiple media platforms, the FRCS Education Team continues to empower businesses and individuals with the knowledge needed to confidently meet their tax obligations and remain compliant.

In addition to these outreach activities, FRCS offers free taxpayer education programmes covering a wide range of tax and customs topics. These initiatives are designed to build awareness, enhance understanding, and support taxpayers in navigating the tax system with ease.

Taxpayers seeking further information or assistance are encouraged to contact FRCS on 324 3000 or 1326, or email info@frcs.org.fj.

FRCS was pleased to participate in the Mini Roadshow organised by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management at the Nadarivatu Government Station.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for FRCS to engage directly with residents and raise awareness about our services and initiatives that support rural development. Through our information booth, the FRCS team assisted community members with Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Joint Card registrations while providing information on the range of services available.

Outreach programmes such as these enable FRCS to bring essential services closer to communities that may face challenges accessing our service centres. By taking our services directly to the people, we are improving accessibility, fostering greater awareness, and ensuring more Fijians can benefit from the support we provide.

FRCS remains committed to working with partner agencies to enhance service delivery and strengthen connections with communities across Fiji and thank the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management for organising this important initiative.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) met with Mr. David O’Connell, Border Management Branch Asia Coordinator and Maritime Lead and Mr. Tuna Bozalan, Programme Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to reaffirm its ongoing support and collaboration in strengthening border security across Fiji and the wider Pacific region.

The engagement underscored the continued partnership between FRCS and UNODC in enhancing maritime compliance and combating transnational organized crime throughout the Blue Pacific. Both parties acknowledged the critical role of coordinated enforcement in safeguarding regional borders against illicit trade and cross-border criminal activity.

FRCS reiterated its commitment to working closely with other law enforcement agencies, both domestically and regionally, to strengthen intelligence-sharing, operational coordination, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at securing the region’s borders.

FRCS acknowledged the productive and longstanding relationship with UNODC, noting that continued cooperation remains vital to protecting Fiji and the Pacific from the evolving threats posed by transnational organized crime.

FRCS continues to invest in building a more informed and financially responsible community through targeted education and outreach initiatives. Recently, the FRCS Ba team conducted an engaging awareness session at DAV College in Ba, bringing together teachers, staff, and students to learn more about taxation, taxpayer responsibilities, and the range of services provided by FRCS.

The session covered a variety of important topics, including the role of FRCS, key tax incentives and concessions, Tax Free Region (TFR) benefits available to businesses and individuals in the Ba region, and the different tax types administered by FRCS such as Income Tax, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT), Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), and Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Participants also gained valuable insights into Tax Clearance requirements and the benefits of the Taxpayer Online Service (TPOS), which offers a convenient and efficient way to manage tax obligations.

Beyond raising awareness, the FRCS team provided practical support by assisting students under 18 years of age with TIN registrations, facilitating the issuance of Joint Cards for eligible teachers and students over 18, and helping staff and senior students register for TPOS. This hands-on assistance ensured that participants not only gained knowledge but were also equipped to access essential FRCS services with ease.

The College Principal expressed appreciation for the support provided by FRCS, noting the positive impact the programme had on both students and staff. The initiative was well received by participants and highlighted the importance of fostering financial literacy, tax awareness, and civic responsibility among young people. The Principal also thanked FRCS for its ongoing commitment to community engagement and looked forward to future collaborations that will continue to educate and empower the next generation.

Chief Executive Officer Mr. Udit Singh and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) presented the 2024-2025 Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs in August 2026, displaying a year of strong performance, record revenue collection, and significant strides in FRCS’ ongoing transformation journey.

Describing the year as a significant milestone in FRCS’ journey towards becoming a modern, intelligence-led, and customer-focused revenue and customs administration, Mr. Singh highlighted the organization’s strongest achievement: the collection of $3.485 billion in net government revenue.

The result exceeded the annual forecast by $185.6 million (5.6%) and surpassed the previous financial year’s collections by approximately $380 million (12.3%). Revenue growth was broad-based, with strong contributions from corporate income tax, withholding tax, domestic VAT, import duties and fiscal duties.

Mr. Singh noted that the outstanding performance reflected strong economic activity across key sectors, including tourism, employment, wage growth, corporate profitability, consumer spending, and imports, supported by enhanced compliance initiatives and targeted enforcement activities.

A major achievement during the year was the successful Tax Amnesty Programme, which enabled nearly 40,000 outstanding tax returns to be lodged and brought many taxpayers back into the compliance system. With the amnesty now concluded, FRCS is strengthening its focus on voluntary compliance through risk-based enforcement and the implementation of its Compliance Improvement Strategy 2025-2028.

Early compliance interventions identified approximately $45 million in additional tax liabilities, with around $30 million already collected. FRCS continues to leverage data analytics, third-party information, taxpayer segmentation, and intelligence-led approaches to better identify and manage revenue risks.

Border protection also remained a key priority. FRCS strengthened partnerships with the Australian Border Force, New Zealand Customs, the World Customs Organization, and other local and international agencies. Investments in advanced narcotics detection equipment, specialist training, chemical analysis capabilities, and joint operations have further enhanced the agency’s ability to detect illicit drugs, customs fraud and prohibited goods while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.

In support of improved service delivery, FRCS expanded taxpayer education and outreach programmes across Fiji, engaging businesses, tax agents, tertiary institutions, schools, and remote communities. Efforts are also underway to enhance customer experience through improved staffing, digital self-service options, stronger queue management, and integrated customer management systems.

Looking ahead, FRCS’ Strategic Plan 2025-2028 will focus on strengthening revenue collection, voluntary compliance, trade facilitation, border security, digital transformation, governance, and organisational capability. Key initiatives include expanding compliance programmes, accelerating digital services, strengthening international tax information exchange, advancing the National Single Window project, and modernising border infrastructure.

Mr. Singh emphasised that FRCS’ mission extends beyond revenue collection.

“Our objective is to administer Fiji’s tax and customs system fairly, efficiently and transparently, make compliance easier, protect government revenue, facilitate legitimate trade and travel, safeguard Fiji’s borders and maintain public confidence in the service, he stated.

Mr Singh acknowledged the continued support of the FRCS Board, Government, partner agencies, staff, taxpayers, and businesses whose contributions play a vital role in supporting Fiji’s economic growth and national development.

The 2024-2025 Annual Report reflects a year of strong results, meaningful progress, and a clear commitment to building a smarter, more resilient, and customer-focused FRCS for the future.