The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has moved to clear persistent misconceptions surrounding the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), stressing that the system is free of charge and should not be mistaken for a new tax.
Hafsah Seguya, Supervisor of Tax Education Outreach at URA, delivered the clarification while engaging members of the Construction Hardware Dealers Association (CHADA) at Hotel Africana, urging taxpayers to embrace EFRIS and make use of the training support provided by the tax body.
“EFRIS is free and is not a tax, as some people allege. It’s a system that manages your transactions and monitors Value Added Tax. URA is willing to train your staff on how to use EFRIS,” Seguya said.
Edith Kembabazi, Supervisor of Field Management, called on hardware dealers, construction suppliers and other businesses in the sector to understand their EFRIS obligations and ensure the system is used throughout their transactions.
She said taxpayers are expected to use EFRIS when selling goods, moving goods from one location to another and obtaining electronic receipts when purchasing from manufacturers or suppliers. Failure to follow the requirements, she warned, could contribute to tax non-compliance.
Rodgers Senfuma, Acting Manager of the Large Taxpayers Office, separately cautioned businesses against selective invoicing, saying failure to issue invoices for all transactions undermines compliance. He urged hardware dealers to ensure every eligible transaction is properly invoiced and receipted.
Yosia Kyesimba, Supervisor of Digital Tax Stamps, explained the newly designated sectors required to use EFRIS, including the construction sector. He also highlighted some of the benefits businesses can obtain from using the system, including improved stock management and greater visibility of transactions.
The URA engagement comes as the tax authority intensifies taxpayer education and compliance efforts, particularly among businesses operating in sectors newly brought under EFRIS. The authority continues to encourage taxpayers to seek clarification and training rather than avoid the system because of misconceptions about its purpose and cost.
