Since January 1, 2025, mobile money users in Cameroon have been experiencing a new increase in costs on money transfer and withdrawal operations. The 2025 Finance Law introduces an additional tax of 4 FCFA per transaction, confirming the State’s desire to maximize revenues from this booming sector.
Since the beginning of 2025, transferring or withdrawing money via mobile phone has become more expensive for Cameroonians. The 2025 Finance Law, which came into force on January 1, established a specific fee of 4 FCFA per transaction on mobile money services. This amount is in addition to the tax on electronic money transfers (TTA) introduced in 2022, set at 0.2% of the transaction amount.
A circular from the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motazé, dated December 31, 2024, confirms this measure. In addition, the TTA rate has been increased to 1% for transactions related to games of chance and entertainment, highlighting the specificity of the financial flows associated with these activities.
The increased taxation of mobile money illustrates a strategy by the State aimed at maximizing revenues from a rapidly growing sector. In Cameroon, mobile money has become an essential alternative for many citizens, particularly rural and unbanked populations, who struggle to access traditional banking services.
However, this decision raises concerns. According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published in March 2022, such measures could hamper financial inclusion and weigh heavily on vulnerable segments of the population. The IMF emphasizes that poor populations, often excluded from the formal banking system, could be particularly affected by these increased costs.
For mobile operators and microfinance institutions, this tax increase represents a challenge. Although these players are required to implement the new legal provisions, the impact on service usage and user satisfaction remains a source of concern.
As for users, discontent is growing. “The fees were already high, now it’s becoming unsustainable,” laments a Douala trader. Others fear that this measure will further limit access to modern financial services for a large section of the population.
If the Cameroonian government is banking on mobile money to boost its tax revenues, it will have to reconcile this ambition with the need to expand financial inclusion. For observers, the challenge is to avoid slowing down the adoption of these digital services, which are essential in a country where access to the banking system remains limited.
The question remains: how far can Cameroon go in its taxation without compromising the achievements of the digital financial revolution?
