The number of taxpayers who submitted their tax forms to the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) rose by 17.1% from 236,438 to 276,936 in one year, and 41% of them were not liable for any tax. A study carried out by the MRA also shows that 93% of taxpayers are satisfied with the way the taxman administers the tax system.
72,758 taxpayers paid additional taxes at the same time as their income tax (i.e. on top of their PAYE/CPS paid during the year) amounting to Rs 2.8 billion, the same amount as last year.
87,123 requests for refunds were received from taxpayers. This represents a 12% increase over last year. To date, 86,069 refunds, or 99%, have been made.
An analysis of income tax returns received in September/October shows that 51% of Personal Income Tax (PIT) was collected from just 7,412 taxpayers with incomes of Rs 2.5 million or more a year. 35,638 taxpayers paid 79% of all income tax. In other words, 22% of taxpayers paid 79% of PIT. Around 41% of taxpayers who submitted their tax forms were not liable for any income tax.
The Tax Payers’ Satisfaction Survey provides the Mauritius Revenue Authority with a better understanding of taxpayers’ behaviour and attitudes, while enabling it to develop stronger and more effective strategies and improve its customer services. According to this year’s survey, 93% of taxpayers believe that the MRA administers the tax system fairly, 82% of respondents said that the measures implemented by Customs to combat drug trafficking were effective. 90% of taxpayers say that the MRA does a good job of detecting tax evasion and 82% said that it is easy to report fraud and other illegal activities to the MRA.
Moreover, 98% of taxpayers said that it is now easier to meet their tax obligations to the MRA and 94% of taxpayers admitted that their confidence in the MRA had grown over the last year.
