The state Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Amos Lugoloobi, has revealed that over 24,000 taxpayers have already adopted the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solutions (EFRIS), despite the protests by some traders.
According to Lugoloobi, who was speaking at Parliament during the Thursday, April 18, 2024, plenary, the taxpayers voluntarily took on EFRIS because of its benefits.
“24000 taxpayers have voluntarily adopted EFRIS because of its benefits, such as simplified record keeping, simplified tax filing, accurate tax assessments, and expedited refunds,” Lugoloobi said.
Lugoloobi further noted that EFRIS is a measure intended to broaden the nation’s tax base.
“This is when people who have been running away from paying taxes are made to pay,” Lugoloobi said.
Lugoloobi also stated that EFRIS has 56,000 registered taxpayers and 32,000 VAT-registered taxpayers.
However, he said that traders are going to be further sensitised by opening taxpayer’s service offices close to them.
“To sensitise traders on the use of EFRIS, we are going to continue training stakeholders by opening taxpayers’ service offices close to them, including Kikuubo and many other areas,” he said.
The minister also noted that Uganda’s tax to GDP has for a long time been hovering around 13%, which he said is far lower than the sub-Saharan average, hence the need for better collection methods.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, asked Lugoloobi during the same plenary to come up with regulations to manage the interest rates charged by money lenders.
Lugoloobi stated that he would engage the minister of microfinance for more information in relation to money lenders, as they are under his department.
