Small traders have voiced serious concern following the Burundi Revenue Authority’s (OBR) decision to require all sellers to purchase an electronic invoicing device.
The cost of the device—set at 1,500,000 Burundian francs—is considered unaffordable by many traders whose business capital is sometimes lower than the required amount. Those who fail to acquire the device risk facing penalties.
Some shopkeepers expressed their frustration:
“It’s a real injustice. How can they demand a device at this price when our businesses don’t even generate that much money? If we buy it, we may not have enough left to keep operating. The OBR seems intent on eliminating us.”
Traders also denounce irregularities in the distribution process: some merchants with large stock volumes are unable to obtain the device, while others with much smaller businesses receive them easily—often through corruption.
Faced with this situation, small business owners believe the OBR must urgently review its policy, either by reducing the price of the devices or by limiting the requirement to businesses with substantial capital and higher revenue streams.