By Teddy Namayanja
The Government of Uganda has introduced a tax amnesty program to support businesses recovering from the economic impact of COVID-19. Through this program, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) will waive interest and penalties on outstanding principal taxes as of June 30, 2023, for taxpayers who pay their principal tax by December 31, 2024 [2).
According to Sarah Chelangat, Commissioner of Domestic Taxes at URA, “It is important to note that only taxpayers who pay their principal tax by December 31, 2024, will benefit from the waiver.”
This amnesty applies to various domestic taxes, including:
- Corporation Income Tax
- Individual Income Tax
- Rental Income Tax
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
- Withholding Tax (WHT)
- Value-Added Tax (VAT)
- Local Excise Duty
- Lotteries and Gaming Taxes
- Stamp Duty
Chelangat emphasized that the waiver aims to encourage tax compliance and provide relief to pandemic-affected businesses. Taxpayers who pay a portion of their outstanding principal tax by December 31, 2024, will receive a proportionate waiver of interest and penalties.
To benefit from the waiver, taxpayers can log into their Tax Identification Number (TIN) account on the URA web portal or visit the nearest Domestic Taxes office for assistance. Chelangat encouraged taxpayers to take advantage of this opportunity, stating that the waiver will relieve taxpayers of their tax burden and enable reinvestment of savings to grow their businesses.
