GOVERNMENT tax revenues climbed nearly 9 percent in August, an official at the General Department of Customs and Excise said Tuesday.

The civil servant, who declined to be named, said August tax income reached US$56 million last month, up from $51.4 million in July.

“During the month [of August], our revenues were mostly from imports – especially from vehicle imports. On exports, we did not make much,” he said, adding that the economic crisis had hurt Cambodian trade.

Stricter enforcement has resulted in most of the gains, according to government officials. In a bid to increase revenues, the government says it has clamped down on certain sectors of the economy that had previously avoided tax.

“We are still trying our best to collect taxes to raise revenues, especially following the prime minister’s order to collect tax on motorbikes and other vehicles which have been imported without paying tax,” the customs and excise official said.

Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon has previously told the Post that the government is aiming for yearly tax revenues of US$500 million for 2009, which would represent a 25 percent increase on last year’s $400 million.