The country’s tax enforcers, the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) says it is projecting a K3.26 trillion Kwacha profit by the end of the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
MRA Commissioner General, John Biziwick made the sentiments in Blantyre on Thursday when he opened a media training on new tax measures and MRA initiatives for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
According to Biziwick, in the first half of the year, MRA has collected K656.48 billion representing a 41 per cent growth when compared to the collection for the first quarter of the 2023/24 fiscal year.
However, the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) failed to meet its K748.117 billion revenue collection target for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
Biziwick said the Authority managed to collect K656.488 billion between April 1 and June 30 2024
This represents a K91.629 billion deficit or 12 percent shy of the target.
Relying on the media
Biziwick described the media a crucial partner in as far as tax compliance is concerned in the country.
“We rely on the media to raise awareness and foster a culture of tax compliance,” he said.
Biziwick, therefore, called on the media to ensure they report keenly on issues of tax so that the masses are able to understand.
He emphasised the need for the media to educate the public on the issue of tax stamps which has created a lot of interest from the general public.
“Tax stamps have always been there, we are just extending the tax stamps to a few other products like energy drinks and imported beer,” Biziwick said.
A lot of disinformation
Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Susan Dossi echoed Biziwick`s sentiments on the importance of the media in disseminating information to the people.
“There is a lot of disinformation in this country and if media houses are given the right information they will be able to communicate effectively to the general public,” Dossi said.
Dossi commended MRA for being vibrant in the implementation of the Access To Information (ATI) law.
“We rely on the media to raise awareness.”
John Biziwick
MRA Commissioner General
