Mauritius Revenue Authority November 2015 In this Issue

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1 MRA E-Newsletter Mauritius Revenue Authority November 2015 In this Issue DG MRA elected Chairman of CATA. Page 1 Meeting with Accounting Firms. Page 2 Benin Delegation:Ensuring integrity and tackling tax evasion. Page 3 E-filing and VLDS Prize Giving Ceremony... Page 4 MRA sensitizes women entrepreneurs. Page 5 Induction Course for newly recruited analysts Page 6 VLDS Sensitization Campaign at Jumbo Phoenix.. Page 6 MRA Annual Prayer.. Page 7 MRA wins 24 medals at the FMSC Athletics Meet and Swimming Competition..Page 7 DG MRA elected Chairman of CATA The Director General of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), Mr. Sudhamo Lal, was elected as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) during the 13 th General Meeting held in Malaysia. Mr. Sudhamo Lal has succeeded to Tan Sri Datuk Wira Dr. Hj. Mohd Shukor Mahfar, Chief Executive of the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, and will be in post for the next three years. The Director General of the MRA was previously the CATA President from 2009 to CATA held the 36 th Annual Technical Conference at Melaka, from Monday 16 th to Friday 20 th November More than 115 delegates from 26 CATA member countries, inclusive of observers, attended the meeting and the topic of the 36 th Meeting was Governance and Integrity in Tax Administration. Contact Us taxpayerservices@mra.mu twitter.com/mra_services In addition to being conferred the Chairmanship of the CATA, Mauritius has also been elected as a member of the CATA Management Committee which also consists of the following 14 countries: India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, Barbados, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, United Kingdom and Malta.

2 The CATA was established in 1978 and currently has 47 Commonwealth countries as active members. One of the main objectives of the CATA is to help member countries through conferences, training programmes, publications and knowledge sharing to develop effective tax administrations that promote sustainable development and good governance. The next CATA Annual Technical Conference will be held next year in Barbados. Meeting with Accounting Firms The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) organized the last quarterly meeting with Accounting firms on 6 th November 2015 at the MRA Head Office, Port Louis. The Director General welcomed all participants to the meeting and reviewed the following issues for discussion: Simplified Income Tax and VAT Schemes, Follow-up of the Joint MRA- Accounting Firms Technical Committee, Alternative Dispute Resolution and E-Taxation. This regular interaction with Accountants, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), forms an integral part of the life of the organization whereby feedback, suggestions and proposals are received and discussed with stakeholders for a better understanding and smooth running of the administration. The next meeting will be held in early Mauritius Revenue Authority October

3 Benin Delegation: Ensuring Integrity and tackling tax evasion A delegation comprising of 5 delegates from Benin had a working session with members of Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) Management Team at the MRA on Thursday 26 th November The meeting was held following a request made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and a series of presentations were prepared for the Beninese delegation. The following three presentations were on the agenda: Integrity Management by Mr. S. Narrainen, Director Internal Affairs Division (IAD), Ensuring Integrity of MRA s system and processes by Mrs. S. Mooroogen, Director Internal Audit Division (IAD), Tackling tax evasion to contribute to the fight against financial crime by Mr. I. Beesoon, Director Fiscal Investigations Department (FID). The purpose of this visit was to take cognizance of the achievements and initiatives taken to combat financial crimes and promote integrity in Mauritius. Mauritius Revenue Authority October

4 E-filing and VLDS Prize Giving Ceremony The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) invited the winners of the E-Filing and VAT Lucky Draw Scheme (VLDS) at the MRA Head Office on Friday 27 th November 2015 for a prize giving ceremony. It is to be recalled that the E-Filing and VLDS draws were effected at the MRA Head Office in presence of the Chairman of MRA Board, Mr. Sateeaved Seebaluck on Wednesday 04 th November During the Prize Giving Ceremony, the Director General of the MRA highlighted that the MRA has received more than 97% of returns electronically during the last tax season and this achievement was successful only through the contribution of taxpayers. Similarly, more than 57,000 entries were received by taxpayers for the VLDS campaign since it was launched in The first prizes of the E-Filing and VLDS of Rs each were remitted by the Director General of the MRA to Mr. J. Nicolin and Mrs. B. Rosick respectively. (Click here for list of E-Filing and VLDS winners) Mauritius Revenue Authority October

5 MRA sensitizes women entrepreneurs On Thursday 19 th November 2015, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), in collaboration with the National Women Entrepreneur Council (NWEC), organized an education session at the seat of the NWEC at Phoenix. The tax basics were explained to the audience which was made up mainly of entrepreneurs-to-be and businesswomen of the region of Phoenix. Before the end of the session, the MRA resource person briefed the audience about the VAT Lucky Draw Scheme (VLDS). The feedback from the participants was positive and they called for more educative sessions of this kind in different regions of the island. Mauritius Revenue Authority October

6 Induction Course for newly recruited analysts Twenty-six newly-recruited Analysts/ Senior Analysts from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) were present on Tuesday 10 th November 2015 for an induction course at Level 8, MRA Head Office. At the request of MOFED, a presentation on Tax and Customs Administration was made by the Director General of the MRA, Mr. Sudhamo Lal. The Analysts/ Senior Analysts were accompanied by Mr. M. Bhekhee and Mr. J. Suhootoorah who made respective presentations on Indirect Taxation policy and Direct Taxation Policy. The aim of the session was to familiarise the new recruits with tax mechanisms and also meet with their stakeholders. VLDS Sensitization Campaign at Jumbo Phoenix Following a fruitful sensitization campaign at Bagatelle Shopping Mall and Flacq Coeur de Ville in October 2015, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) renewed the experience at Jumbo Phoenix Shopping Mall on Saturday 30 th October and Sunday 01 st November The MRA operated a stall near the Jumbo Supermarket and staff from Taxpayer Education and Communication Department (TECD) and Tax Risk Management Unit (TRMU) sensitized the public on the VAT Lucky Draw Scheme (VLDS). The VLDS is an initiative introduced by the MRA to sensitize the local population (individual consumers and VAT Registered Persons) on the necessity to claim/issue a receipt for every transaction as per the VAT Act. During the said week-end, approximately 1000 persons were sensitized through VLDS leaflets and face-to-face interactions. During this campaign, non-compliant invoices were detected and necessary actions initiated. Mauritius Revenue Authority October

7 MRA Annual Prayer On Thursday 5 th November 2015, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) organized its Annual Prayer at the Mariamen Kovil Albion Dock at Port Louis. As it was the case during previous years, the religious event is the occasion which sees the participation of all MRA staff, irrespective of grade, department, religious belief and age. The official ceremony began with devotional songs, in the presence of the Director General of the MRA, Mr. Sudhamo Lal, Aaya Deven Sungelee the Officiating Priest, members of the Management Team, members of the MRA Staff Association, MRA staff and members of the public. During his address, the Director General of the MRA said that this year the celebrations of the Annual Prayer it is an opportunity for the MRA family to come together as a family, forget the resentments, forgive and apologise. The Director General emphasized that the MRA staff are blessed with the opportunity to serve the Nation by doing their work with passion and dedication. This, he added, is similar to prayers offered to the Almighty. The Director General concluded that the credit of the success of the MRA Annual Prayer goes to the Organising Committee and that, during this special event, we must also remember our colleagues who have retired from the MRA. (Click here for more pictures) Mauritius Revenue Authority October

8 MRA wins 24 medals at the FMSC Athletics Meet and Swimming Competition During the month of November, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) participated in two sporting events organized by the Fédération Mauricienne des Sports Corporatifs (FMSC), namely the Athletics Meet and the Swimming Competition. The Athletics Meet was held at the Germain Commarmond Stadium at Bambous and it saw the participation of more than 20 MRA staff in the different sport competitions. Mr. H. Khelawon and Ms. I. Larché won the Best Athlete Awards respectively and the medals won by MRA staff were as follows: Category Name of Participant Prize 3000 mts KHELAWON, Mr. Harris Gold Medal 1000 mts KHELAWON, Mr. Harris Gold Medal Discus LARCHE, Miss Isanie Gold Medal Discus JHUMUCK, Mr. Jaykrishna Silver Medal Poids JHUMUCK, Mr. Jaykrishna Bronze Medal 1500 mts MOOTIEN, Mrs. Pamela Gladys Bronze Medal 60 mts MOOTIEN, Mrs. Pamela Gladys Bronze Medal 200 mts BEEHARRY, Mr. Mehvin Bronze Medal Long jump SULYMAN, Mr. Mohammad Mehdi Bronze Medal Mauritius Revenue Authority October

9 Javelin RAMLUCHUMUN, Mr. Ghanshiam Bronze Medal The FMSC Swimming Competition was held at the Serge Alfred Swimming Pool on Sunday 29 th November 2015 and 10 MRA staff participated therein. The table below lists the MRA staff who won the respective medals: Category Name of Participant Reward 50 mts Dos THANAY, Mr. Ludovic Gold Medal 100 mts Nage libre THANAY, Mr. Ludovic Gold Medal 50 mts Dos MOOTIEN, Mrs. Pamela Gladys Gold Medal 50 mts Nage libre MOOTIEN, Mrs. Pamela Gladys Gold Medal 50 mts Nage libre ARNEL, Mr. Jean Stellio Eliel Silver Medal 50 mts Brasse ARNEL, Mr. Jean Stellio Eliel Silver Medal 50 mts Brasse MOOTIEN, Mrs. Pamela Gladys Silver Medal 50 mts Brasse RAMDASS, Mr. Kaviraj Silver Medal 50 mts Dos MAMOOJEE, Miss Amira Bibi Silver Medal 4x50 mts Nage libre Relay mixte THANAY, ARNEL, MOOTIEN, MAMOOJEE Silver Medal 4x50 mts Nage libre hommes THANAY, ARNEL, RAMDASS, Wong Silver Medal 50 mts Nage libre MAMOOJEE, Miss Amira Bibi Bronze Medal 100 mts Nage libre RAMDASS, Mr. Kaviraj Bronze Medal 50 mts RAMDASS, Mr. Kaviraj Bronze Medal Mauritius Revenue Authority October