MRA collects Rs 137 billion – a 21.6% increase
Taxes
The MRA has reaffirmed its “efficiency and effectiveness as a world-class revenue-raising system”, surpassing the previous year’s revenue collection by a remarkable growth of 21.6% for the fiscal year 2022/2023. In fact, the MRA collected Rs 137 billion, a significant increase from the Rs 112.6 billion in 2021/2022. This was announced by Mr Sudhamo Lal, the MRA’s Director-General, during a press brief last week.
“Out of the total collection, Rs 128.2 billion was remitted to the Consolidated Fund, which will go to finance public services, infrastructure development, social welfare programmes, and other national expenditures.
Sudhamo Lal, Director-General, reaffirmed the MRA’s efficiency and effectiveness as a world-class revenue-raising system
Corporate tax generated Rs 22.6 billion, representing a substantial increase of 36.8% compared to the previous year’s collections. Net VAT collections for the fiscal year 2022-2023 amounted to Rs 47,766 million, a growth of 24.8% over the previous financial year. Additionally, Rs 15.7 billion was collected under the Personal Income Tax (PIT), marking a 12.0% increase, stated Mr Lal.
On the other hand, Mr Lal also spoke about the e-filing season 2023, stating that commencing August 29, 2023, individual income tax returns e-Filing had already begun. Individual taxpayers have been granted the opportunity to submit their returns online through the MRA website till Monday, October 16.
Moreover, MyRA – the MRA Chabot – was presented during the press brief by Mr Mahmad Oozeer, Director of the Operational Services Department. MyRA, which combines technology and customer service features to offer efficient and accessible support, serves as a virtual assistant designed to help individual taxpayers round the clock on the MRA website. MyRA will initially assist taxpayers in gathering information for accurate filing of their personal income tax returns. Future plans involve broadening the MyRA features to encompass other tax types as well as information sharing as regards the MRA’s financial support initiatives.
Another recent innovative project, which comes with a particular focus on taxpayer convenience, good governance, integrity, and transparency – e-Invoicing – was also presented. e-Invoicing is about generating electronic invoices that must be validated by MRA before issuance. This project is being executed in phases, with the first one launched in June 2023 for software developers and solution providers. Subsequent phases target businesses with turnover over Rs 100 million.
Similarly, the e-Tax Account was introduced as an interactive electronic communication system between the MRA and taxpayers, which will streamline correspondence and document retrieval. It is aligned with the MRA Taxpayer Portal and allows taxpayers to access submitted tax returns, refund statuses, and payment records.
Moreover the MRA is also envisaging the possibility of equipping Customs Officers with firearms and defensive weapons to enhance safety and security during duty. Additionally, five scanners will be installed at the SSR International Airport’s Arrival Hall to bolster security, improve border control, and expedite passenger clearance.
Mr Amick Teeluckdharry, Assistant Director at the Taxpayer Education and Communication Department, spoke about the strong partnership between the MRA and taxpayers. He highlighted the vital role of the media in disseminating information effectively, citing the example of the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme’s successful implementation during the Covid-19 lockdown with media support.
What all this shows is that a well-coordinated revenue authority – which employs all the information it has access to, with the help of technology and especially commitment – can not only raise additional revenues for the public exchequer but also fulfil an altogether different role outside its mandate with efficiency and promptness as it has demonstrably done in recent years in the area of income support, thus marking a significant evolution in its role of tax collector to one of payer of allowances, on behalf of Government, to registered employees, self-employed and informal sector workers through different schemes such as the Wage Assistance Scheme the Self Employed Assistance Scheme, etc.
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 8 September 2023
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