Military regime minister says tax revenue increased by about 3 times during economic downturn

YANGON – The military regime's Finance and Revenue Minister, Dr. Kan Zaw, stated on July 13 during a discussion on a tax-related proposal at the 2026 Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Upper House) that tax revenue had increased by approximately three times during the five years of economic decline following the military's seizure of power. He explained that tax revenue, which was around 4,912 billion kyats in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, increased to 14,070 billion kyats in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, showing an approximate threefold increase in tax revenue over five years. He also stated that in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance and Revenue collected 14,070 billion kyats against a target of 13,460 billion kyats, achieving 105 percent of the target. Dr. Kan Zaw added that the phased implementation of the tax reform strategy had yielded significant results in expanding technology, online tax payments to reduce direct contact between tax officials and taxpayers, and tax declaration submissions, leading to increased tax revenue. Following the coup, the military regime expanded tax collection areas, increased tax rates along with rising prices of special goods, increased commercial taxes, and raised the gold trading tax from 1 percent to 3 percent. Regarding the military regime's tax increases after the coup, U Tin Tun Naing, the Minister of Planning, Finance, and Investment of the National Unity Government (NUG), wrote on his Facebook social media page in July 2024, "The defeated military council has proven itself through its tax actions, adding insult to injury for the people who are suffering from exorbitant price hikes due to the country's economic ruin caused by power-mad individuals." Myanmar's economy has been in decline since the military coup, and according to the World Bank's report released in June, the economic growth outlook remains weak, with growth projected at only 2 percent for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. On the other hand, tax collection expansion has led to price increases. While a mobile phone SIM card cost only 1,500 kyats before the coup, during the coup period, commercial tax of up to 20,000 kyats was levied on a single SIM card. Dr. Kan Zaw, the military regime's Finance and Revenue Minister, stated that the ratio of the Union's tax revenue to GDP increased from 5.07 percent in the 2020-2021 fiscal year to 8.55 percent in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. He added that efforts are ongoing to meet and exceed the target for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and to raise the ratio of tax revenue to GDP to 9.5 percent.