On 31 August 2026, the Burundi Revenue Authority (Office Burundais des Recettes – OBR) announced the imminent launch of a dedicated WhatsApp chatbot designed to provide real-time taxpayer assistance across the full spectrum of tax and customs obligations. Effective 1 September 2026, the service will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the dedicated number +257 77 00 05 00. The initiative marks a significant step in the OBR’s digital transformation strategy, aiming to reduce information asymmetry, lower compliance costs, and strengthen fiscal citizenship by meeting taxpayers on a platform they already use daily. The chatbot supports four languages – French, Kirundi, English, and Swahili – ensuring broad accessibility across Burundi’s linguistic landscape. It is engineered to handle queries on tax and customs legislation, procedural requirements, document checklists, digital services such as e-filing and e-payment, and general civic tax education. By automating first-line support, the OBR expects to alleviate pressure on physical offices and call centres while delivering consistent, up-to-date guidance aligned with the latest regulatory texts.
Key Takeaways
- Multilingual, Always-On Taxpayer Support: The WhatsApp assistant operates around the clock in four languages, eliminating time-zone and language barriers for domestic and cross-border traders. Taxpayers can obtain instant clarification on VAT, income tax, customs duties, and excise rules without visiting an OBR office or waiting on telephone queues.
- Integration with Digital Compliance Ecosystem: The chatbot is designed to seamlessly direct users to the OBR’s existing digital platforms – notably the e-KORI portal for registration, e-filing, and e-payment – creating a unified digital journey from inquiry to obligation fulfilment. This integration supports the OBR’s broader goal of paperless administration and real-time revenue tracking.
- Enhanced Compliance and Dispute Reduction: By providing authoritative, automated responses grounded in current tax law, the tool reduces the risk of unintentional non-compliance caused by outdated or informal advice. Over time, the resulting improvement in voluntary compliance is expected to widen the tax base and decrease the volume of avoidable disputes reaching the judicial partnership framework recently established with the magistrature.
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