Tax agents in Uganda to be vetted before July

May 17, 2017 in Finance, Financial Services, Policy by Editor

May 17—Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has a new Tax Agents Registration Committee (TARC), one of the measures intended to improve tax administration in the country.

The TARC has the job of making sure individuals and firms dealing with URA on behalf of tax payers are qualified and above board.  The first list of duly recognized tax agents is to be published in July.

The Committee is chaired by Doris Akol, the URA Commissioner General. Other members are representatives of various key segments of business including, Derick Nkajja (accountancy); Godfrey Akena, (legal); Freda Mwerinde and Annet Nakawunde Mulindwa who are representing private sector interests.

The launch of the committee follows passage of the Tax Procedure Code (TPC) Act that came into force on July 1st, 2016 aimed at harmonizing tax administration in Uganda.

Akol said the Committee will be responsible for regulating the operations of tax agents. These must be registered, but this will also depend on whether applicants meet the set conditions. An annual review of agents for renewal of registration will also be carried out.  The TARC  is currently drafting  a code of conduct for tax agents.

Commissioner General entrusted the committee issue  certificates  to all duly registered  tax agents. On the question of why it was necessary to regulate the tax agents, Akol said it would among other things protect clients and monitor client grievances against tax agents while also improving stakeholder relations with URA.   She said having an oversight on tax agents will also improve quality of declaration made for  tax  purposes.