The flat-rate housing tax (TFH), which will come into effect on January 2, 2026, continues to fuel debate among households and on Gabonese television. Invited on December 14 to Gabon 24, Steeve Saurel Legnongo, CEO of the Gabonese Water and Energy Company (SEEG), reassured the public and explained the details of this new tax, whose expected financial impact is estimated at 17.95 billion CFA francs in additional revenue. Enforcement measures are in place for non-payment of this tax.
Presented as a tool for regulation and a means for everyone to contribute to the national effort, the Flat-Rate Housing Tax (TFH) is intended, according to Steeve Saurel Legnongo, CEO of the Gabonese Water and Energy Company (SEEG), speaking on Gabon 24 on December 14, as an instrument of social justice, adapted to the standard of living of users. The tax is annual, but payable monthly to preserve purchasing power, it was stated. For example, 12,000 CFA francs per year becomes 1,000 CFA francs per month at SEEG counters. Furthermore, penalties in the form of service disconnections will be imposed in case of non-payment.
“ The monitoring of the TFH payment will be handled by SEEG, in coordination with the tax authorities ,” warned Steeve Saurel Legnongo. There will be reminders and a power cut after the third letter to guarantee the expected 17.95 billion CFA francs.
Before going into these details, the head of SEEG wanted to address an initial concern. He reiterated that not all subscribers are affected in the same way. ” It’s important to clarify that we currently have 435,000 active meters. Among them, 60,000 are social housing meters, representing 14% of our customer base. These social housing subscribers are not subject to the flat-rate housing tax ,” he explained, following government sources who had specified that the lowest-income households, identified through these social housing meters, are exempt from the housing tax.
For subscribers subject to the tax, the amount will not be uniform, but proportional to the household’s consumption capacity. As Steeve Saurel Legnongo points out, ” the principle is that those who consume the most pay accordingly .” ” A household residing in Akanda, with a house equipped with ten air conditioners and five freezers, will not pay the same amount as a household living in a modest dwelling with one lightbulb, one fan, and one freezer ,” he illustrated.
Firm debt recovery in case of non-payment
As far as we know, the allocation key is based on the subscribed power. ” Everyone who subscribes to a meter does so for a given power level. This power level allows us to assess the level of consumption, and therefore, indirectly, the standard of living of tenants or owners ,” he explained.
On a practical level, SEEG and the tax administration have established a precise timetable, with firm recovery in case of non-payment. ” From January 2, 2026, we will send each taxpayer a statement of the TFH indicating the amount of tax due ,” indicated the ADG, who added that ” each subscription holder will receive this statement by mail, SMS or electronically .
