40000 tax e-filers so far

More than 40000 taxpayers have so far filed their income tax forms electronically. According to an official source at the Mauritius Revenue Authority, the number of e-filers is likely to go beyond last year’s figure, when 44,000 taxpayers went online to file their forms.

“We expect the number of e-filers to exceed that of last year. We would like to advise taxpayers however that they should not wait for the last minute to go online just in case there are problems with internet connections,” says an official source at the MRA.

The MRA expects a rush for the last three days available for filing tax returns. Those who are not able to go online can file their income tax returns at the office of the MRA in Port Louis which will be open from 8.45am to 6pm today and tomorrow.

The office will be open from 8.45am to 8pm on March 31. The Filling Income Tax Assistance (FITA) programme which the MRA held during the weekend in 16 villages around the country and in one village in Rodrigues attracted thousands of people. 

According to an official source at the MRA, 7,345 taxpayers have filed their income tax forms electronically through the FITA programme. The closing date for filing of income tax returns is March 31. 

Taxpayers who fail to do so will have to pay a penalty fee. However, they may avoid the penalty fee if they e-file their tax returns within 15 days after the closing date and pay their tax through Internet banking.

By Nilen Kattany