Uganda Revenue Authority back on Tax Tribunal
Mar 29, 2009
THE Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has resumed appearing before the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
By Mary Karugaba
THE Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has resumed appearing before the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
The tax body last year withdrew from the tribunal accusing the tribunal members of bias.
Betty Kasimbazi, the finance ministry under secretary, told legislators on public accounts committee last week that the conflict was resolved after the minister intervened and appointed a new board last August. She did not, however, name the new board members.
“URA said they were losing many cases because the Tribunal was bias.
“However, the minister could not interfere with the Tribunal’s work at the time because their term had not yet expired. The situation has now normalised,†Kasimbazi said.
In a report to Parliament, the Auditor General John Muwanga, said URA had complained to the finance ministry about the performance of the Tribunal particularly the manner it handled cases against them (URA).
Muwanga said URA had also complained about the mandate, composition and competence of the Tribunal’s members and the inconsistencies in the rulings made.
“On the other hand, the Tribunal disputes URA complaints. These differences raised have the effects of constraining the performance of URA in their role of tax collection and administration,†the report read.
The Tribunal is mandated to hear and rule on cases pertaining to tax complaints brought forward by taxpayers and or URA before further adjudication by a higher court in case of appeal by either litigant.
THE Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has resumed appearing before the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
The tax body last year withdrew from the tribunal accusing the tribunal members of bias.
Betty Kasimbazi, the finance ministry under secretary, told legislators on public accounts committee last week that the conflict was resolved after the minister intervened and appointed a new board last August. She did not, however, name the new board members.
“URA said they were losing many cases because the Tribunal was bias.
“However, the minister could not interfere with the Tribunal’s work at the time because their term had not yet expired. The situation has now normalised,†Kasimbazi said.
In a report to Parliament, the Auditor General John Muwanga, said URA had complained to the finance ministry about the performance of the Tribunal particularly the manner it handled cases against them (URA).
Muwanga said URA had also complained about the mandate, composition and competence of the Tribunal’s members and the inconsistencies in the rulings made.
“On the other hand, the Tribunal disputes URA complaints. These differences raised have the effects of constraining the performance of URA in their role of tax collection and administration,†the report read.
The Tribunal is mandated to hear and rule on cases pertaining to tax complaints brought forward by taxpayers and or URA before further adjudication by a higher court in case of appeal by either litigant.