Malawi tax body concerned with increased number of vehicles seized

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has said there is an increase in number of vehicles being seized due to non-payment of duty.

Kamoto:  Many vehicles seized
Kamoto: Many vehicles seized

Oftentimes, according to the Authority’s Commissioner General, Raphael Kamoto, the buyers whose vehicles have been seized claim that they were not aware that duty was not paid for since the vehicles had a local registration number.

These vehicles include Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Ranger, BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes Benz, Toyota Hilux and many more.

Kamoto, therefore, advised the general public that before buying a vehicle from anybody or an organization, they should be taking time to verify the duty status of the vehicle with MRA, even if the vehicle is bearing a local registration number.

“MRA further wishes to remind the general public that when it is discovered that the vehicle in one’s possession was not properly cleared through Customs, it will be seized.

“The vehicle will only be restored on full payment of Customs duties and penalty in accordance with the Customs & Excise Act. Please, note that no duty or penalty shall be waived,” said Kamoto.

MRA is an agency of the Government of Malawi responsible for assessment, collection and accounting for tax revenues. MRA was established by an Act of Parliament in 1998 and was launched in February 2000.

It was formed to improve on the functions previously carried out by Divisions of Customs and Excise, and Income Tax in the Ministry of Finance. The Authority operates as a government tax administration agency under the Ministry of Finance.

The revenue that the Authority collects goes to Government for implementation of various socio-economic development projects such as the constructions of roads, bridges, schools health facilities and provision of social services. These include national security, provision of salaries for civil servants such as the police, the army, judges, doctors, nurses and teachers.

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MRA STAFF
MRA STAFF
8 years ago

The problem is STEALING is influenced by MRA staff who do not appreciate the high salaries they are getting. When there is a deal they can process your documentation faster than the rocket zopanda dilu u will sweat and alibe nkhawa kapena kuwopa bwana coz ambiri ntchito zake ndizobwera mjumbo too much relationship the centre and north

Ngwenyama
8 years ago

Comment malawi ina ndi jelasi

Nkhuku
8 years ago

Targeting vehicles is a waste of time because there are only few vehicles who follow into non payment of duty comparing with goods the Chinese community is bringing into the country. My advise to Mr Kamoto is that he must put his house (MRA) in order. So many thieves there including high rankings officers who were stealing with the old guts but they have been left un touched.

PHIRI
PHIRI
8 years ago

SO MR. KAMOTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT GOODS SMUGGLING IS TAKING PLACE SO CAN U GO ON THE STREETS AND PEOPLE TO SHOW CLEARED DOCUMENTS SO START SEIZING THOSE GOODS AS WELL LIKE TV’S ZITENJE ETC……………….
IN LILONGWE EVERYDAY GOODS ARE BEING SMUGGLED IN TOTAL 10 BY 40′ CONTAINERS HAVE A STRONG TEAM IN LILONGWE I PROMISE U WILL COLLECT EXTRA BILLIONS PER MONTH IF THIS IS STOPPED IF U WANT ME TO HELP PLS REPLY TO THIS ARTICLE GIVE ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER

Kanonono
Kanonono
8 years ago

A review of your tax rates will make sense Mr Kamoto. You have one of the most expensive rates in SADC and that is why even the rich choose to dodge you and go for short-cuts. See where you went wrong and correct the mistake once and for all.

Njirazasintha
Njirazasintha
8 years ago

Malawian organisations should learn to do the jobs that they were set up to do; they should not expect the general public to do their work for them. How can a vehicle on which duty has not been fully paid have local registration? This is the question that Ralph and his staff should be asking. It means that they are dozing on the job. Working hand in hand with the Road Traffic Directorate (or whatever it is called now), the internal controls should be tightened such that a vehicle should not qualify for local registration until all duty has been… Read more »

makito
makito
8 years ago

MRA is behaving like a tobacco tenant who does not want to bear any risk for his business but transfers it wholly to the poor tenant. Why on earth should the buyer of a locally registered car be responsible for ensuring that duty was paid? It beats my mind that a foreign car can be registered without verifying that duty has been paid. MRA and Road Traffic are not responsible for failure to ensure that duty was paid, Kamoto is proudly telling us, but you the public members are! Shame. That is Malawi for you.

chikoya
8 years ago

What? You mean a car can be registered by road trafc before duty is paid to mra? you mean RT Dept does not check this with MRA? then something is terribly wrong btwn mra and road trfc dept.

Bertha
Bertha
8 years ago

Duty is too high beyond affordability of most malawans. Consider to reduce the duty to avoid these problems nanga abale duty kumakhala over 60% of the cost price of the vehicle that’s why tikumangogula ti ma Nissan note kulephera kugula Benz please mra you are a yoke over our necks boma likanapeza other ways of making money rather than punishing motor vehicle buyers

Dr Moo Thaa Leeker
Dr Moo Thaa Leeker
8 years ago

Kamoto, all this time you don’t know that most staff went slow because of your style of leadership punctuated by nepotism and tribalism. Mxiii. Have you ever wondered why MRA is now failing to meet targets? Reflect mbuzi yamano kunsi.

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