On Friday, 23 June 2017 the Malawi Revenue Authority launched three innovative platforms aimed at enhancing electronic payment of tax and verification of MRA documentation.

Presiding over the launch on behalf of the Minister of Finance Economic Planning and Development, the Secretary to the Treasury Mr. Ben Botolo said the launch of E-Payments, Quick Response (QR) Codes and ASYCUDA World is part of modernisation of public services.

“The Government of Malawi, under the leadership of the State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is implementing the public service reforms programme whose aim is to facilitate the creation of an effective and efficient Public Service that will spur economic growth.

“The systems we are launching today bear testimony to the willingness and commitment by Government to see to it that the public service reforms benefit businesses and the people of Malawi. The modern systems will afford importers, clearing agents and taxpayers in general the opportunity to commence and complete tax and customs transactions online,” Mr. Botolo said while congratulating the Commissioner General, Mr Tom Gray Malata and all MRA staff for the focus in putting to life the goals of Public Sector Reforms through the launch of the three systems.

The ST said the E-Payment is an efficient way of collecting the much needed revenue in line with the Ministry’s focus to promote paperless transactions.

“This will also save enormous costs in printing paper money which is usually withdrawn from circulation and destroyed with time. Therefore, the E-Payments platform will go a long way in achieving our goal of paperless transaction. The E-payment will give many Malawians improved convenience of paying taxes on time and without the burden of carrying hard cash and cheques around,” he said.

MRA Commissioner General, Mr. Tom Gray Malata said the document validation system allows taxpayers to verify and authenticate MRA documents through QR codes, mobile phones and the web portal.

“Don’t just accept MRA documents; authenticate them. With this system, we would like to warn all unscrupulous traders who were beating the system by providing the banks with fake documents that those days are overs. A new era is born and it is here to stay. We have total security. You have total convenience,” the CG.  

The launch was graced by various members from both the private and public sectors.

BY HENRY MCHAZIME