The Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has challenged the Uganda Revenue Authority to intensify tax education to sensitize taxpayers on aspects of taxation and their obligations.

The committee members made the call yesterday during the discussion of the December 2023 Auditor General’s report.

They noted that some misunderstandings between URA and taxpayers arise out of limited understanding of tax education. They singled out the recent strike where traders closed their shops as they demonstrated against the implementation of the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS).

Hon. Medard Lubega Sseggona, the Committee Chairperson, urged URA to roll out more sensitization programs to equip taxpayers with relevant knowledge about the taxes they are supposed to pay and the channels through which to pay them in order to avoid standoffs.

“Be kind to the taxpayer; don’t harass them, but engage them thoroughly through tax education in order to cultivate a tax-compliant society,” he said.

Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi in his response disclosed that URA has stopped enforcing EFRIS and is now educating taxpayers about the system.

“Following meetings and the guidance of His Excellency the President, we stopped issuing penalties and conducting enforcement operations. We are educating taxpayers on the benefits of EFRIS and we have been doing this for the last one month,” Musinguzi explained.

He commended taxpayers who responded to the EFRIS penalty waiver call and noted beneficiaries were also educated on the system then.

The URA boss, however, expressed displeasure with business leaders who are discouraging traders from participating in the exercise and any other URA-initiated educational programs.

By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan