Kasaija: No New Taxes in Next Financial Year

The Minister of Finance Hon Matia Kasaija has said no new taxes will be introduced in the financial year 2022/23.

“We will achieve revenue targets by improving the efficiency in tax collection and enhancing compliance to tax laws,” Kasaija said on Tuesday while reading this year’s budget speech at Kololo Independence Grounds.

He said the capacity of the Uganda Revenue Authority will be enhanced by recruiting and training staff, deploying appropriate equipment and ICT to enforce tax laws.

Tax Measures for Financial Year 2022/23

“Madam Speaker, I wish to report that Parliament has made amendments to the various tax laws intended to simplify the laws, clarify previously ambiguous provisions and close loopholes that may lead to revenue leakage,” he noted.

He added: “Madam Speaker, the amendments that have been made are in the Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax, the Stamp Duty Act and the Tax Procedures Act. I will now highlight the major amendments.”

Income Tax

According to Kasaija, the corporate income tax exemption for Bujagali Hydro Power Project has been extended for one (1) year up to 30th June 2023 in order not to increase electricity tariffs for power that the Project generates.

The income tax Act has been amended to streamline the rental income tax regime for individuals and non-individuals as follows:

1. i) Introduce a zero rental income tax rate for individuals that earn annual rental income not exceeding Shs. 2,820,000 and a rate of 12 percent of rental income exceeding that amount; and
2. ii) For rental business, introduce a 30 percent rental income tax rate on rental income with expenses capped to 50 percent for each year of income. In addition, any excess expenses shall not be carried forward to a subsequent year of income.

Value Added Tax

Under the Value Added Tax Act, the following amendments have been made:-

1. i) Exempted the supply of oxygen cylinders or oxygen for medical use to reduce the cost of the supply of oxygen for medical use;
2. ii) Exempted the supply of assistive devices for persons with disabilities to reduce the cost of the equipment used by persons with disabilities;

iii)     Exempted the supply of airport user services charged by the Civil Aviation Authority to reduce the cost of transiting through Entebbe Airport;

1. iv) To allow for Cash Basis Accounting for suppliers who supply goods and services to Government to facilitate them to hedge against the risk of interest and penalties arising from delayed payments by Government; and
2. v) Repealed the exemption on VAT on imported services used in the provision of an exempt supply to encourage business to use local suppliers of services such as Information and Communications Technological services.

Tax Procedures Code

The amendments under the Tax Procedures Code Act, include the following: –

1. i) Introduced penalties for failure to provide information for purposes of Automatic Exchange of Information to improve compliance; and
2. ii) Introduced penalties for failure to adhere to Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution and Digital Tax Stamps. This is intended to combat tax evasion, smuggling, and other vices.

Stamp Duty

Under the Stamp Duty, the following amendments have been made: –

1. i) Provide for NIL stamp duty on the following instruments;
2. Agreements relating to the deposit of title deeds or personal property or goods to another as a pledge or as security for a sum of money borrowed.
3. Agricultural Insurance Policy, to encourage the uptake of agricultural insurance services; and
4. Security Bond or Mortgage Deed executed by way of security for the due execution of an office, or to account for money or other property received by virtue of security bond or mortgage deed executed by surety to secure a loan or credit facility.
5. ii) Clarification of the rate of Shs. 15,000 applicable on the transmission of property from the Administrator of an Estate to the Beneficiary.

Excise Duty

Under the Excise Duty Act, the Government has undertaken the following amendments: –

1. i) Clarification of definitions of various products that attract excise duty such as spirits and juices to enhance taxpayer compliance; and
2. ii) Reduced excise duty applicable on opaque beer and fermented beverages made from locally sourced raw materials to 12 percent or Shs.150 per litre, whichever is higher. This is intended to promote value addition and the use of locally sourced raw materials.