ENewsletter October 2011
In this issue
- Annual Report submitted to Minister of Finance
- Educational Session for Entrepreneurs
- Agreement between Mauritius and Tanzania
- MRA Annual Prayer
- IMF prepares Report
- Self Leadership Management
- Interactive Data Extraction and Analysis (IDEA)
- WCO Staff Framework of Standards
- Compliance and Enforcement
- Welfare Activities
- 32nd Annual CATA Conference
MRA Annual Report submitted to Minister of Finance
On 10th of October 2011, Mr V Hassamal, Chairperson of the MRA together with Mr Sudhamo Lal, Director General of the MRA submitted the Annual Report of the Mauritius Revenue Authority for the period July 2009 to December 2010 to Hon. Charles Gaëtan Xavier-Luc DUVAL Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development.. This Annual Report holds MRA’s achievements over a period of 18 months, from July 2009 through to December 2010, thus exceptionally covering two fiscal years – a six month fiscal year from July to December 2009 and the calendar year 2010.
Educational Session for Entrepreneurs
An Educational session was organized by the Mauritius Revenue Authority on 13 October 2011 at the SMEDA Training Centre, Coromandel. Mr. D.Seetloo, Section Head, Large Taxpayer Department and Mr. N.Tacouri, Team Leader, Medium and Small Taxpayer Department were the resource persons who gave explicit explanations on taxation to entrepreneurs attending the session. Some 25 entrepreneurs benefitted from the exposé which covered salient issues both from Income Tax and Value Added Tax.
Conclusion of DTA Agreement between Mauritius and Tanzania
The first round of negotiations for the conclusion of an Agreement between Mauritius and Tanzania for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income were held at the MRA Headquarters, Ehram Court from 03 Oct to 07 Oct 2011. The Mauritius delegation was headed by Mr. Mustupha Mosafeer, Director, Large Taxpayers Department and International Taxation Unit, Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), while the Tanzanian delegation was led by Mr. Laston T. Msongole, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Tanzania. The negotiations were held in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and cooperation. At the close of the discussions, certain issues have remained unresolved. Both delegations have agreed to pursue discussions with a view to resolving those issues during a second round of negotiations to be held in Tanzania
MRA Annual Prayer
This year the MRA Annual Prayer was held on Thursday 13 October 2011 from 10:00 to 12 00 at the Hindu Maha Jana Sangham Shri Kannanur Mariamen Kovil, Trou Fan Faron, Port Louis. Mr. Chumpesswur Betchoo, Section Head-MRA Customs acting as the Master of Ceremony welcomed everybody present on behalf on MRA and the Organising Team. In their speeches, Acharya Kathejeyen, the officiating priest; Mr. Sudhamo Lal, the Director General of MRA and Mr. Luximan Babajee, the Acting Director of Customs Department, highlighted the importance and benefits of prayers in our daily life. The MRA Annual prayer was also attended by MRA management team, MRA staffs and other devotees. As usual, mahaprasad (free food) was served after the ceremony.
IMF expert prepares Report on Administration of Micro and Small Taxpayers
Following the request of Mauritius for Technical Assistance regarding the administration of Micro & Small Taxpayers, Mr Franciscus Bosch, from the IMF, was in Mauritius during two weeks (31 Oct -11 Nov) to prepare a report, which was ultimately submitted to the MRA.Mr Bosch concluded that “Mauritius” has one of the simplest and most enviable tax system for small businesses in the world.
Self Leadership Management
"We live times when we need to be leaders in our organizations and of our own selves". It was with these inspiring words that Mr Marcelo Bulk Gimenez started a half-day training on "Self Leadership Management" at the MRA on Friday 28 October 2011. The participants were refreshed on the need to inspire, motivate and convince in order to better manage and control and managing change during times of crisis and chaos were part of the lecture as well as the power of dreams and vision.
Interactive Data Extraction and Analysis (IDEA)
Analysing data, company figures, detecting frauds and exercising better internal control, these are some of the advantages of using data analysis software. With a view to extend the use of such kind of software, Mrs S. Mooroogen, Director of Internal Audit, MRA made a series of presentations to MRA Directors and Staff. Data Analysis Software can help to extend auditing and analytical capabilities of MRA staff while allowing better fraud detecting possibilities and meeting of documentation standards. No need to manually analyse data as the software allows for a user to import, join, analyse, sample and extract data from almost any source, including reports printed to a file.
WCO Staff Framework of Standards
Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) Certificates Introduced
In compliance with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Safe Framework of Standard set up in 2005, the MRA has started the process of implementation of the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme and already 12 companies have applied for the certification. MRA has adopted the concept of trade facilitation by implementing several risk management tools to strike a balance between security/customs control and trade facilitation by allowing low risk cargo and passengers to flow freely and target the high risk ones. With the globalisation of trade, the flow of cargo and passengers across borders has increased considerably and so have the risks included therein. The Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) concept will be used along other non-intrusive risk management tools for trade facilitation and at the same time minimise risks against terrorists attack and enhance security measures right from the time the cargo is exported till it reaches the country of destination through an established supply chain.
Compliance and Enforcement
NCEN system
A New CEN platform has been developed. The key differences between the old and the new one are the emailing system (similar to the emailing system in CENcomm), the forum (similar to discussion for a accessible via the internet), and the standardisation of various data fields to ensure high quality data.
NCEN Deployment
Mauritius is the pilot country for NCEN where this tool is now operational. The WCO Secretariat will conduct a security audit in order to ensure the security, reliability and stability of the application. Subject to the audit's outcome, additional Customs administrations will be provided with the NCEN.
Extract from WCO News - October 2011
Welfare Activities
With a view to promote welfare activities for the benefit of MRA staff, 2 sports events were organised in October 2011, namely a "7- A Side Football Festival", and a "Volley Ball Premier League". In addition, a "Domino Tournament" will be organised in the month of November 2011. The 7- A Side Football Festival, organised by the HRTD, in collaboration with the MRA Welfare Association, was held on Sunday 09 October 2011 at the Raman Dooma Football Playground, Camp Yoloff, Port Louis. The winners were honoured with medals and trophies on that day.
The Volley Ball Premier League was also organised by the Fédération Mauricienne des Sports Corporatifs (FMSC), with which the MRA is affiliated since August 2010. The League started on 10 October 2011 and ended on 14 November 2011. A total of 7 teams from various organisations, SOFAP, SBM, Barclays, Innodis, AML, and Maersk including the MRA were convened. Consequently, the MRA has completed this League Cup at the 3rd place. A prize giving ceremony will be held in November 2011 whereby the players will be honoured with bronze medals and a trophy.
32nd Annual CATA Conference
Mr Sudhamo Lal, Director General, MRA lighting a lamp to inaugurate the 32nd Annual CATA (Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators) Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka as President of CATA.
