‘Taxpayer charter to improve compliance’
The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has launched a taxpayer charter to ensure efficiency in tax collection and management and improve compliance.
The charter would help strengthen tax payers’ confidence in the MRA systems and processes and cultivate sound rapport between them and officials.
Key in the charter is the taxpayers’ rights and obligations.
The eleven taxpayer rights incorporated in the document include the right to impartial treatment, accurate and complete information access and right to quality service.
The obligation, nine in total, includes the requirement for the taxpayers to register with MRA, keep records, and file returns on time and pay on time.
Speaking when launching the charter in Blantyre on Monday, MRA board Chairperson Vizenge Kumwenda said among other things, the charter outlines the rights and obligations of the taxpayer and gives important information for compliance.
He said with the guidelines in place, the revenue collection body expects improved voluntary tax compliance.
“Besides service excellence, the charter will bring about fairness in the way MRA treats taxpayers. We will not discriminate against or favour anyone. We will act with due care and diligence.
“The only discrimination we are going to permit is between compliant taxpayers and non-compliant taxpayers. We will give red carpet treatment to compliant taxpayers while aggressively enforcing the tax laws on tax evaders,” Kumwenda said.
MRA Commissioner General John Bizwick said launch of the charter is ideal towards improving service delivery and efficiency.
“The charter is one of the many steps that we are taking to demonstrate that we have heard what the taxpayers are saying and we are committing to improving our service delivery,” he said.
Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry representative Arnold M’bwana hailed the commission for the step taken, saying it will help improve working relationships with tax payers and broaden the revenue base.
