Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has challenged journalists to play a critical role in improving tax compliance by raising public awareness of the new tax measures.
The public tax revenue collector said the media has the capacity to simplify complex tax issues for ordinary Malawians to understand.
MRA head of corporate affairs Wilma Chalulu said this on Saturday in Mangochi District during a media training for journalists based in the Eastern Region.
During the training, MRA unpacked the newly introduced electronic invoicing system, which replaced electronic fiscal devices as well as rental income tax and other tax reforms.
Chalulu said wider public awareness is critical to the successful implementation of the new tax measures, adding that misinformation often leads to misunderstandings and non-compliance among taxpayers.
She said: “Taxpayers need to understand that paying taxes honestly and in full is a civic responsibility because tax revenue finances hospitals, schools, roads and other essential public services.
“When journalists understand tax issues, they are better placed to communicate them accurately and help citizens appreciate why paying taxes is important for national development.”
Chalulu observed that informed reporting will help to build public confidence in the tax system and encourage voluntary tax compliance among traders, landlords and other taxpayers.
“The media is an important partner in ensuring that taxpayers receive accurate information because informed citizens are more likely to comply with their tax obligations,” she said.
One of the participants, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation journalist Davie Umar described the training as timely and beneficial, saying it enhanced journalists’ understanding of taxation and recent tax reforms.
“The training has equipped us with the knowledge to report tax issues accurately and help the public understand both their tax obligations and the importance of taxation to national development,” he said.
Umar said journalists have a responsibility to simplify technical tax matters to enable the public easily understand them.
He pledged to disseminate the tax news to the public to broaden public awareness of the next tax measures and reforms.
During the training, MRA said it has collected K1.398 trillion in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year against a target of K1.378 trillion, registering a surplus of K20 billion.
The authority attributed the performance to stronger trade taxes, the increase in value added tax from 16.5 percent to 17.5 percent, higher royalty collections improved dividend tax revenue and the introduction of a 0.05 percent bank transfer levy to be applied on all bank transfers and another 0.05 percent mobile money levy on mobile money transfers of above K100 000 to be paid by the sender.
During this fiscal year that ends on March 31 2027, MRA is tasked to collect K6.2 trillion.
