Kabul (Kubha News)—Amid escalating international sanctions and mounting pressure on the Taliban government, reports indicate a surge in taxation targeting ordinary citizens, entrepreneurs, and local vendors to fund government operations.
Since assuming power, the Taliban administration has not only hiked prices for essential services, such as electricity, but has also intensified the collection of various levies, including fees for sanitation booklets, trade licenses, activity permits, annual taxes, and more, according to sources cited by Kubha News.
Speaking anonymously to Kubha News, a Kabul-based shopkeeper revealed the strain imposed by the Taliban’s tax regime. “We are subjected to five types of taxes,” they disclosed, listing a litany of charges. “We are weary of this predicament; some of us may be forced to shutter our businesses.”
Despite a purported decree by Taliban leadership rescinding the tax on boards, it appears enforcement remains unchanged, with merchants continuing to bear the financial burden.
Echoing the sentiment of many Afghan entrepreneurs, one businessman lamented the obstacles posed by excessive taxation, expressing concern about the viability of sustaining operations under such conditions. “The government ought to foster an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, offering support and incentives,” they urged. “Yet, regrettably, our government’s reliance on taxing its populace and business community is stifling economic progress.”
In contrast, authorities from the Kabul Municipality and the Taliban’s Ministry of Trade maintain that taxation practices adhere to legal frameworks, asserting improved business conditions relative to the past.