DRC Keeps Digital Tax Framework in Place, Exempts Startups

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will keep its new tax framework for digital businesses in place, while startups will be exempt from the fees and charges introduced under the measures. The clarification came on 6 August, when Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba met representatives of the country’s digital sector in Kinshasa to discuss concerns surrounding the new rules.

The interministerial order, adopted on 20 July, introduced fees, taxes and other charges covering various digital activities. The measures triggered concern among entrepreneurs and other digital businesses, particularly over their potential impact on a technology ecosystem that is still developing. The government has now clarified that startups are covered by a separate regime under the country’s Digital Code and will not be required to pay the charges established under the new order.

Startups Covered by Digital Code

The exemption is linked to Article 384 of the DRC’s Digital Code, which provides eligible digital startups registered under the country’s entreprenant status with tax, parafiscal, customs and foreign exchange benefits available under legislation governing entrepreneurship and startups. This distinction is important for the country’s growing startup sector, as the new charges will continue to apply to other digital activities covered by the order. The clarification follows a temporary suspension of the measure on 1 August, after several days of opposition from entrepreneurs, online media companies and other digital businesses.

The order was jointly signed by the ministers responsible for digital economy and finance. The government said the temporary suspension was intended to prevent confusion and ensure that businesses understood how the measures would be applied. Following the meeting in Kinshasa, the government confirmed that the order remains in effect, with startups excluded from the new charges.

Digital Sector Already Faces Multiple Charges

The debate comes against a wider backdrop of taxation in the DRC’s digital economy. A 2025 report by the GSMA identified several existing charges affecting digital services in the country, including a 16% value-added tax, 10% excise tax on mobile services, 2% contribution to the universal service fund and a 3.6% RAM fee.

The GSMA warned that the accumulation of these charges could affect the affordability of digital services and make it harder to expand digital access in the country. For startups, the latest clarification removes one immediate concern around the new framework. For the wider digital sector, however, the question of how taxation affects the cost of services and investment remains part of the broader discussion around the development of the DRC’s digital economy.