Although government has planned to collect UGX 29 trillion from domestic taxes, URA has failed to hit the target of the financial year ending 2023/2024 by UGX 2 trillion. Government increased its target tax revenue collection from UGX 25.2 to 29.5 trillion in the FY 2023/2024.
It’s now a few days to the new FY when the new budget will commence but URA has remained very hopeful that it will hit the target because there are many tax payers who filed their returned and have not responded in terms of payment.
The Assistant Commissioner Public and Corporate Affairs at URA Ibrahim Bbosa while addressing reporters in a joint press conference organized by both URA and KACITA, said that although they are running out of time , he is very optimistic that they will hit the target.
“Its true we are short of UGX 2 trillion to hit the target that was set to us in the financial year ending June 30, 2023, but I am confident that we will hit our target and even get a surplus because we have a significant number of tax payers who filed their returns and have not paid. These will pay to avoid a penalty of fine.’’ Bbosa said.
He also said that URA has now introduced favorable systems that are friendly to the tax payers and this has eased tax collection something that has helped to increase on the number of business people and companies who have filed their returns and are ready to pay taxes.
The chairman of KACITA Nagenda Musoke said that after receiving several complaints from his member about harassment and unfair handling by URA officials, he petitioned the commissioner General and he agreed to cause a meeting with the KACITA leaders, other leaders of traders and some of the trader who will be nominated. The said meeting will take place on Monday, June 26,023.
He said that the meeting among others will help traders to present their complaints regarding, the assessment and the collection of taxes and how best they can be helped to pay taxes without inconvenience and harassment.
Nagenda also said that after negotiations, government has given traders up to December 31, 2023 to clear their tax arrears that accumulated during for the past two years and they are allowed to pay in installments.
Meanwhile URA has planned to introduce body cameras which will be put on by its staff such that they will be monitored all the time they are at work and this will help to improve efficiency and reduce corruption tendencies by URA officials and the tax payers.
By George Bukenya