In the first nine months of the year, Cambodia’s tax revenue increased more than 17.3 per cent from the corresponding period in 2012, data from the General Department of Taxation show.

Total tax revenue rose to $678.1 million from $578 million. Of the whole, salary tax increased by 24.4 per cent, income tax went up by 19.5 per cent, value added tax by 18.1 per cent and special tax went up by 16.1 per cent.

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party whip Son Chhay, an outspoken critic of the allegedly insufficient tax collection system, said that revenue is low compared to Vietnam and Thailand, countries that bring in taxes of roughly 20 and 30 per cent of GDP, respectively. Cambodia, by contrast, collects only 11 per cent, he said.

Tax department director general Kong Vibol said in September that he is strengthening tax collection to increase revenue and attract investors to Cambodia.