MRA opens compliance window for tax defaulters

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) will give tax defaulters an opportunity to pay their taxes under the Voluntary Compliance Window (VCW) without being penalised through interest and criminal prosecution.

Speaking during a media briefing at Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre on Thursday, MRA commissioner general John Biziwick said the window will run for three months from November 1 2013 to January 31 2014.

“The relief under this window includes interest and penalties, with regard to late submission of returns and criminal prosecution.

“The main objective of the window is to create an environment for increasing and improving the tax compliance culture, which will in turn broaden the tax base.

“Specifically, the window will offer an opportunity to normalise the tax affairs of those that were filing but became non-compliant due to unfavourable conditions for the past few years.

“The window will also offer an opportunity to those who were not even filing previously but are seeing better prospects in the light of economic recovery. The window also extends to those who are not yet registered and those who were filing incorrectly,” said Biziwick.

He said the window extends to those who are not registered, were not declaring tax, were under-declaring or misclassifying their importation for duty purposes.

Biziwick said MRA is beefing up its capacity in terms of audit personnel and will come full throttle after the end of the window period.

He said the window will give MRA an opportunity to clean up the tax register and induce increased voluntary compliance.