By Akinyi Winiefred, Media Management
Uganda Revenue Authority has released a list of registered tax agents for the period of January 2023 to December 2023, pursuant to the Tax Procedures Code Act.
According to the law, a tax agent is an individual, partnership, or company who has been approved and licensed following a successful application, reviewing, vetting and awarding of a certificate of registration to become a tax agent by the Tax Agents Registration Committee.
Upon approval, a tax agent is responsible for the preparation, certification, and filing tax returns, information returns, or other statements or reports required by the URA on behalf of a taxpayer. They also represent the taxpayer in meetings and hearings in all matters relating to a taxpayer rights, privileges, or liabilities and other official correspondences with the Authority.
In a notice issued to the public, the authority cautions taxpayers to beware of frauds and only appoint agents from the list of approved and Registered Tax agents published on the website at, https://ura.go.ug/reportController/getListOfAgents.
Taxpayers can appoint agents by following the steps herein mention: Go to the URA web portal and log into your TIN account; under e-Services, go to Customs/DT Agent appointment, then select Tax Agent for Domestic Tax; enter the TIN of the approved Agent, license period, appointment start and end dates, validate and add. Also modify details of the tax agent and add tax type(s); enter appointment start/end date, save and submit the application.
A notification will be sent to the selected tax agent. The selected tax agent will then log into his/her account that ends with an “A” e.g. 1000000000A and accept or decline the appointment.
In the same light, the Authority has invited applicants for withholding tax exemptions effective 20th April 2023. To qualify for this exemption, one has to have fulfilled their tax obligations during the financial year, have a tax agent as provided for in the Tax Procedures Code Act, issue invoices/receipts to all clients for VAT registered tax payers and be registered for Withholding tax as a tax type among others.
Upon approval, granted exemptions will be valid for 12 months from 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024.
Qualifying persons can apply at https://ura.go.ug and follow these steps: log into your TIN account using your TIN and password; under e-Services, click on e-Registration; under Others, select “Withholding Tax Exemption Application” and then proceed with the process of self-assessment until the end then, submit your application. Ensure that you get an acknowledgment receipt with a reference number as evidence of application.
