Malawi Revenue Authority - Taxpayer Registration through Msonkho Online

Taxpayer Registration through Msonkho Online

Last Updated: 14 April, 2023 - Print

The Taxation Act and VAT Act require owners of businesses, both individuals and companies, to register for tax purposes.

Registration for taxes is free and taxpayers can register through Msonkho Online or at any nearest Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) office.

MRA issues a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) on registration that should be used on any correspondence with the Authority.

Msonkho Online is accessible by taxpayers through a portal on the MRA website, www.mra.mw. Taxpayers can use the system to manage their tax affairs including tax registration, updating profile and submitting returns.

HOW TO APPLY FOR TIN THROUGH MSONKHO ONLINE

Taxpayers can register for taxes through Msonkho Online and they will be assigned a TIN. However, taxpayers are required to create an account on Msonkho Online portal before they can commence the registration process. Click on how to apply for Msonkho Online Portal Registration.

Upon signing up and successfully registering to use the Msonkho Online Portal, prospective taxpayers can register for taxes through the platform by taking the following steps;

Visit the MRA website www.mra.mw through a web browser, preferably Google Chrome
A Msonkho Online banner with two buttons, namely Taxpayer Login and TIN Application, will appear
Click on TIN Application button and a screen will appear with fields for email and password
Enter your email address and the password you created when applying to use the portal
Click the Login button and you will access the Msonkho Online platform for tax registration

Upon login into Msonkho Online, you will be required to fill the required information on several pages. Once you complete filling a page move to the next page by clicking Next button. The tabs include the following;

Personal details

Under this tab, prospective taxpayers are required to enter their individual details including category of individual, title, first name, surname, gender, marital status, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, country of residence, reason for TPIN application and other basic details. When all personal details have been entered click on the Next button and the Contacts screen will appear.

Contacts

Contact details are important for communication. Prospective taxpayers must provide their contact details and the first contact will be the primary contact. If one wishes to add another contact, for example another phone number or email address, click on the New button and add another record. When all contact details have been entered click on the Next button and the Address details will appear.

Address details

The location of a taxpayer’s business operations is important. Prospective taxpayers must provide their address type, building name, house number, street name, town or city and other details. If one wishes to add another contact address, click on the New button and then add the details of the other address. When all the details have been added, click on the Update button and then Next button and the Identifications screen will appear.

Identifications

The National Identity Card (NID) is the primary ID in Malawi and prospective taxpayers must provide their identification details including identification type, identification number, date of issue, expiry date, place of issue and other details. Click on New to add information about another form of ID and then click on Update and then Next button and the occupations screen will appear. Foreigners can use the Immigration Permit or passport as a form of identification.

Occupation

Prospective taxpayers are required to provide details of their trade or business. Enter the details of the occupation including status, category of role, precise category of role, gross receipts and turnover. Click on the Next button and the Attachment Details screen will appear.

Attachments

Prospective taxpayers are required to attach some documents. Enter the details of the scans of the documents and evidence associated with the TIN application. This is usually a scan of ID documents including the National ID and enter the type of document and reference number. Click on the +Choose button and then browse to find the appropriate file. Click on Open. The file name will be seen in the attachment field. Add any notes that may be required and then click on the Add button and then the Next button to see the Summary.

Summary

This tab provides a summary of the information entered and changes can be made before submitting. If you are satisfied with the information entered, click on the Submit button at the bottom of the Summary tab to send the application for processing. The record will close and a successful submission will send an informative email with an Application Reference Number (ARN) to the primary email address.

VIEWING APPLICATION STATUS

Prospective taxpayers can track the progress of their TIN application on the Msonkho Online Portal. To view your application status, take the following steps;

Enter www.mra.mw into a web browser, preferably Google Chrome
A Msonkho Online banner with two buttons, namely Taxpayer Login and TIN Application, will appear
Click on TIN Application and a screen will appear with fields for email and password
Enter your email address and the password you created when applying to use the portal
Click the Login button and you will access the Msonkho Online platform
Click on the Check Application Status link
Enter your Application Reference Number (ARN) and click the Submit button

APPROVAL OF TIN APPLICATION

Information entered through the Msonkho Online Portal is vetted by MRA through the Client Relationship Management (CRM) facility that enables authorisations of actions by an Approving Officer.

The application for TIN will therefore be verified and all documents cross-checked. Upon verification and to the satisfaction of the Approving Officer, the TIN application will be approved and a taxpayer will be duly registered and assigned a TIN.

ACCESS TO MSONKHO ONLINE

Once your application has been approved, it means you are now a registered taxpayer and you will be issued with a TPIN. In order to access the Msonkho Online Platform, you must take the following steps;

Visit the MRA website www.mra.mw
A Msonkho online banner with two buttons, Taxpayer Login and TIN Application, will appear
Click on the Taxpayer Login button; the page requires username and password
Click on Register Now to get a username and a password
Fill the form on the Taxpayer Portal Registration and submit
Check your email inbox for a notification from Msonkho Online
Check your junk email or spam folder as the notification may end up there
Click on the confirmation link sent to your email to activate your account
Use the username and password created above to login through the portal by clicking on the Taxpayer Login button and start making tax transactions

ADVANTAGES OF TAX REGISTRATION

The following are some of the advantages for tax registration;

MRA provides information on preparation of business accounts for tax purposes. The accounts enable the taxpayer to know whether the business is making profits or losses
Registration for taxes proves one to be patriotic and the registration itself generates trust with other entities thereby enabling ease in transaction of business
Business is operated freely without fear of being caught by MRA or any authority
MRA issues Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) that enables the business compete for any public/open tender