The Malawi Revenue Authority recently organized workshops with motor vehicles importers in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu. The main objective of workshops was to explain and clarify the importance of registering for tax before importing motor vehicle into the country.
Opening the meetings, Hilda Mkandawire, Public Relations Specialist, informed the participants that the meetings were arranged after MRA observed that some motor vehicle importers do not know the procedures to follow when registering for tax in order to obtain Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN).
“Most motor vehicle importers do not understand the need to register for taxes and obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN) before importing vehicles. MRA, therefore, organized this meeting to sensitize you on the need to do so,” said Mkandawire.
During her presentations, Lilian Nyirenda took participants through steps required to register for tax, types of taxes one can register for and the personal benefits for registering for tax, among other things.
Importers during the meeting in Lilongwe
Speaking on behalf of participants in Blantyre, Chatonda Mpata, Chairman for Nagoya Car Dealers, said importers need to be well informed about taxes that affect them in order to make informed decisions before importing vehicles into the country.
“Sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong side of the law because we do not know the taxes that we are supposed to pay hence this workshop is an eye opener for us,’’ he added.
MRA was represented at all the meetings by Dr. Stella Manyenje, Nancy Mwale and Lilian Nyirenda from Domestic Taxes Division. These were joined by staff from the stations.
BY NAPO SIMKONDA