Mauritania: Mauritania Finance SG Opens Meeting with Public Enterprise Accountants

On 2 September 2026, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance inaugurated a working session with chief accountants and financial controllers of Public Administrative Establishments (EPA) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOE). The meeting, organized by the General Directorate of Budget and the Directorate of Public Debt, addressed the new fiscal reporting requirements for public entities under the 2026 Rectified Finance Law and the updated Organic Law on Finance Laws (LOLF). Key agenda items included the standardization of chart of accounts for EPAs, the enforcement of timely tax withholding and remittance obligations, and the integration of EPA financial data into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system. The session also covered the implications of the new public procurement code on VAT treatment of government contracts.

Key Takeaways

  • Unified Fiscal Reporting Framework: A ministerial decree will mandate all EPAs and SOEs to adopt a harmonized accounting plan aligned with OHADA standards and international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) by 31 December 2026, facilitating consolidated fiscal reporting and tax compliance monitoring.
  • Strengthened Withholding Tax Compliance: The Ministry will implement automated controls within the TSA to verify that EPAs correctly withhold and remit VAT, payroll taxes, and contractor withholding taxes on a monthly basis, with penalties for non-compliance effective immediately.
  • Debt Transparency and Contingent Liabilities: Accountants were instructed to report all contingent liabilities, tax disputes, and arrears to the Directorate of Public Debt quarterly, ensuring accurate reflection of fiscal risks in the national debt sustainability analysis.

Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.

Source: Read Official Announcement