Tax governing body, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has struck a partnership with the United Bank of Africa (UBA) to unveil an online and Point of Sale (card swiping) tax payment method through Visas and Master Cards.
The service which is the first of its kind in East Africa will enable tax payers access services in a faster, easier and more convenient way. It’s also expected to improve Uganda’s World Bank rating of ease of doing business.
The solution gives the taxpayer ability to register a payment on URA’s portal and complete the payment on the bank’s portal. It allows the tax payer to use any visa for both online and swipe irrespective of the Bank that issued it.
The development comes barely a month after the Authority introduced Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System which was rolled out in February this year.
The system tracks cargo on transit from end to end (port to destination) including satellite monitoring with rapid response units meant to eliminate non-tariff barriers in order to reduce transit times as well as reduce the cost of doing business.
According to URA officials, the systems will go a long way in eliminating unnecessary costs incurred in payment of taxes.
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In her remarks, URA Commissioner General, Doris Akol said that the method will give URA the capacity to be a single government payment window that will administer local government and petroleum revenues.
“This will also give URA the capacity to collect tax and no-tax revenues for central government, including fees from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),” she said.
