URA in a move to enhance transparency and compliance in tax collection has revamped its tax ledger register for all taxpayers.
The announcement was made by URA Commissioner General, John Rujoki Musinguzi, during the launch of the Voluntary Disclosure program, which focuses on foreign accounting information and offshore assets under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI).
The newly introduced system allows taxpayers to easily track their tax payment records, review outstanding tax obligations, and facilitate timely declarations and filing of returns. Notably, it streamlines the process for computing Value Added Tax (VAT) without the need for physical interaction with URA staff.
Commissioner General Musinguzi emphasized that the URA is committed to fostering transparency by providing taxpayers with clear access to the tax register.
The system categorizes tax obligations per head, making it simple for taxpayers to understand their responsibilities, including any outstanding arrears.
One of the key features of the system is its capability to reduce conflicts between the tax authority and taxpayers arising from unclear principal and actual tax amounts.
Musinguzi stated, “What the new system does is transparently displaying the tax register to all our taxpayers in a clear manner periodically, clearly categorizing per tax head so that everybody who wants to know what their tax obligations are, including arrears, can do so without needing much help from anybody to interpret it for him.”
To ensure a smooth transition to the new system, URA staff are currently conducting training sessions for various taxpayer groups. These include tax agents, the Medium Taxpayer Office, Large Taxpayer Office, and the Oil & Gas Office.
Musinguzi expressed optimism about the positive impact of the reform on the country’s tax collection performance. He anticipates that the new system will contribute to fostering better relationships with taxpayers, especially large taxpayers, credible tax agents, and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI).
“While any new system may encounter some errors initially, we assure you that we are heading towards a better relationship with our taxpayers. We can see it, and we are confident that this reform will be a great milestone in expanding the country’s tax collection performances, as evidenced by the growth of the taxpayers’ register,” assured Musinguzi.
