LIRA – The Uganda Revenue Authority [URA] has lauded taxpayers in Lango Sub-region for the growth in the revenue collection attained so far in the year 2023.
This pronouncement was made during the launch of the electronic receipts [e-receipts] in Lira City, which was part of an ongoing campaign aimed at ensuring that every Ugandan pays their fair share of taxes.
According to Geoffrey Mujabi, head of URA Lira office, tax collection has increased by more than 35 percent in the nine districts of Lango Sub-region within a period of seven months.
He said the clients have been very cooperative, a reason they have registered good revenue collection unlike in other years.
“I need to appreciate our taxpayers, there is a high level of compliance among our taxpayers, and they reach out to our office in case they need information. We have registered growth in domestic revenue to a tune of over 35 percent this year which has not been the case in the previous years,” Mujabi said.
Mujabi was hopeful that the introduction of electronic receipts will help improve revenue collection because all data will now be kept in one record.
“When the population is aware of their rights in terms of trade and purchases, then consequently the declarations are improved and certainly the tax will also be increasing,” he said.
He also explained the importance of electronic receipts, saying they will enable people to pay their fair share of taxes when they purchase items using electronic receipts.
“We want citizens to pay a fair share of taxes. For example, if I go to the shop and I get a receipt, on that receipt I shall have paid the tax and someone will remit it to the Consolidated Fund. If I don’t get a receipt, I shall have paid the tax and that tax will never get into the Consolidated Fund,” he explained.
To use electronic receipts, taxpayers clients are required to download the application software on their phones but some people do not have smartphones.
However, Mujabi said there are other options. “To our esteem clients who do not have smartphones, there is plan B. You can still register those receipts on the URA web portal, which is accessible in all the internet cafes and other areas that has internet or visit our offices,” he said.
Walter Otengo, a boda boda cyclist in Lira City welcomed the use of electronic receipts, saying they will save them transport costs they have been incurring while vising URA offices.
“I have seen that this application of e-receipt is very good because it saves time, and also expenses such as in transport to URA offices to make payments,” Otengo said
Bonny Orech, a dealer in electronics said electronic receipts are very convenient when making payments which further helps in monitoring sales and payments.
https://thecooperator.news/ura-introduces-new-mechanisms-to-collect-more-taxes/
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