By Tikondane Vega

Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) says it is committed to ensure that there is adherence to voluntary tax compliance while fighting tax evasion, smuggling and tax fraud.

MRA’s Head of Corporate Affairs Steven Kapoloma said while the authority is always grateful to valued taxpayers who voluntarily pay taxes in time, the authority is aware that there are some businesses out there that due to some genuine reasons fail to pay taxes.

“We encourage such people to visit MRA offices so that we can address their challenges and enable them to comply with tax obligations as required.  MRA is doing everything to ensure the majority of Malawians are voluntarily complying with tax laws by filing their return and paying taxes in time.

“To deal with tax evasion, MRA has put up several strategies for example the authority has fully fledged audit teams spread Malawi that are responsible for tax enforcement. The authority has also tax investigation unit division whose mandate is to enhance voluntary tax compliance by combating tax fraud and fiscal evasion,” said Kapoloma.

Kapoloma said the authority has patrol teams across the country whose duty is to catch tax evaders and furthermore through the MRA incentive scheme, the body has engaged community leaders such as chiefs to educate their subjects on the danger of aiding smuggling and the benefits of reporting smugglers to MRA.

He added,” Through these initiatives MRA has registered success in intercepting and seizing smuggled items including illegal sugar, cement and tobacco cigarettes among other goods. The authority will not tire in its efforts to ensure that everyone pays their fair share taxes.

Meanwhile, Kapoloma is encouraging the public to report suspected cases of smuggling, tax evasion and tax fraud using the Toll-Free Line 847 for Airtel, TNM and Access and 80000847 for MTL adding those providing relevant tips are rewarded under a robust informant scheme.

In the past MRA splashed Mk38 million to successful informant  and one accumulated rewards amounting to Mk 2million and during the 2016-2017 financial year, rewards amounting to Mk45 million were disbursed.

Further, the tax collecting body has been giving tax defaulters an opportunity to pay their taxes under Voluntary Compliance Window for a period of six months in order to provide relief to the business community.

The tax collected by MRA is used in several ways including buying medicines for hospitals, paying salaries for civil servants, constructions of roads and schools among other essential services the country may need.