Over 80% of taxes now paid through e-payment

Following the introduction of E-payment in which taxpayers settle their tax liabilities electronically, the system has been adopted by many taxpayers due to its convenience. Currently, Malawi Revenue Authority is collecting over 80% of the taxes through E-Payment.

This was revealed recently by MRA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Steven Kapoloma, in Blantyre when members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament visited Msonkho House.

Kapoloma informed the committee that MRA is introducing a number of products and service through its modernization drive and one such high selling product is the E-Payment.

He added that some of the benefits that taxpayers are enjoying from the product include reduction in the cost of collection, improved taxpayer service, elimination of taxpayer queues, ease of reconciliations and reduction of fraud cases.

“Please, note that by using this system, occurrences of refer to the drawer cheques are zero,” he added.

Since October 2017 when the system was introduced, MRA stopped accepting ordinary cheques for tax payments. From then to date, taxpayers have been encouraged to use E-Payment, bank transfers or cash to settle their tax obligations. 

Before E-Payment was introduced, refer to the drawer cheques held revenues amounting to about K6.9 billion.

When asked to explain what MRA is doing to cater for those without internet banking facilities, Kapoloma quickly said:

“MRA is working day and night towards developing a mobile platform to cater for those without internet facilities”.

About twenty-six MPs who are members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament visited MRA to take stock of what the Authority is doing in its quest to modernize the Authority.