To improve voluntary compliance, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has camped in Iganga District to educate and support the Deaf community on their Tax rights and Tax obligations and how they can exploit the tax regime to grow their businesses.
Through a public lecture premised on Opportunities for the Deaf in the Parish Development Model, URA skilled the Deaf community in Iganga District on how they can grow their businesses through formalisation. Andrew Kyakonye, a Tax Education Officer, told the community that Business formalisation is one of the milestones that persons with hearing impairment should front if they want their businesses to grow. “Business formalisation involves registering your business with URA to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN), and ensure that after that you maintain proper business records which a Taxpayer uses to file returns and pay the subsequent tax liability”, says Andrew Kyakonye.
He further assured the Deaf Community that to access the funds the government has set aside in the Parish Development Model (PDM) to improve the livelihoods of deaf persons; one will need to formalise their Community Business Groups by registering them with the Community Development Officers (CDOs) and URSB but most importantly registering with URA to be issued with a Tax Identification Number (TIN), as you will not access these funds without a TIN, which is free of charge.
As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Awareness Week for the Deaf under the theme “Building Inclusive Communities for all: Uganda Sign Language unites us”, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has partnered with the Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD) in these celebrations to provide Revenue services to the Deaf such as TIN registration, Return Filing and payments, Financial literacy and other Tax Education and Advisory services. The Awareness week shall be climaxed on Friday 23rd. September 2022 with celebrations of the International Day of the Deaf at Iganga Municipal P/S Grounds in Iganga District.
