PHNOM PENH: The General Department of Taxation (GDT) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance collected over $1.8 billion worth of tax income in the first five months of this year, about 51 percent against the annual target.

The figures were released by GDT Director General H.E. Kong Vibol in a recapitulative meeting on tax income collection on Thursday. H.E. Kong Vibol noted the significance of tax revenue in the first five months.

He attributed the achievement to the government's efficient measures, especially in responding to and containing COVID-19.

The GDT is a government agency responsible for collecting interior taxes such as income tax, salary tax, VAT, and property tax. For 2023, the government targets KHR 23 trillion (approximately US$5.5 billion) as income from the GDT and the General Department of Customs and Excise.