URA, Indian Business Forum agree on EFRIS 

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Indian Business Forum have resolved to roll out the Electronic Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) across all businesses.

EFRIS is a new smart business solution used to record business transactions and share information with URA in real time (concurrently). It involves the use of e-invoicing through the URA web portal and direct communication with business transaction systems (system-to-system connection), electronic fiscal devices (EFDs) and electronic dispenser controllers (EDCs) to manage the issuance of e-receipts and e-invoices.

In a meeting that was held between the Uganda Revenue Authority, ministry of Finance, Uganda Bureau of Standards and Indian Business Forum, the Indian Business Forum expressed their dismay over the delayed deployment of EFRIS and other systems across all businesses and multiple URA audits.

According to John Musinguzi Rujoki, the commissioner general of URA, they resolved to work together for the improvement of revenue collection and the creation of a favourable business environment.

“We resolved to have a common benefit and interest in improving the business environment because it is businesses that are thriving that contribute the revenue that we look for. So, for every operational challenge that has been standing in our way, we have agreed to work on it together in consultation with the ministry of Finance, and the parliament, who are responsible for making changes in policy,” he said.

Musinguzi said that the business community “called for the implementation of new technologies like EFRIS. If you issue an invoice and your neighbour does not, he takes advantage of that. He can afford to sell without VAT and that creates an unlevelled playing field. We assured them that EFRIS would be deployed across the spectrum.”

The commissioner general said the delay in introducing EFRIS was due to URA’s decision to first sensitise and bring the business community to understand what the new technology is all about. He also added that there was need to first develop new channels because some business environments required platforms that were not readily available, such as the mobile app that had just been launched.

“I want to encourage Ugandans to adopt this system, which is used to monitor a consumer tax, VAT. The bigger benefit is that it will help you monitor your business since you will be issuing receipts to every customer. As URA, we are stepping up the enforcement of EFRIS,” he noted.

The business community decried multiple URA audits and resolved that they be sorted out. The URA promised to have a compliance improvement plan, which will be shared across all the departments of customs and domestic taxes, to reduce taxpayer fatigue.

They also had a challenge with the new levies on exports to South Sudan. Currently, there is a charge of $350 per consignment by the South Sudanese authorities. Musinguzi noted that both countries are in discussion to sensitize businessmen so that they understand the new charge and comply with it.

Sudhir Ruparelia, the chairman of the Ruparelia Group, said many times they were getting wrong information and misguided by both URA and their staff. He added that with more dialogue with URA, information becomes clearer.

“There is a general perception that URA is the last resort. Everything now works with dialogue. The taxpayers should know the laws regarding their businesses and if everything is not clear, they can go to URA,” he stated.