URA Takes EFRIS Awareness Drive to Gulu Real Estate Dealers, Urges Compliance
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intensified taxpayer education on the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), taking its latest sensitisation drive to real estate dealers in Gulu as the authority seeks to ensure that businesses affected by the new requirements understand and comply with the system.EFRIS, which stands for Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution, is a digital system that enables businesses to record transactions and share transaction information with URA in real time.
URA says the system is intended to improve transparency, accuracy and record keeping in business transactions. The Gulu engagement brought together real estate players who were being onboarded onto EFRIS under the recently amended requirements, as well as taxpayers who were already using the system but needed additional guidance on how to use it effectively.Muzamil Aluma, Supervisor Tax Education at URA, told the real estate dealers that tax laws and requirements change over time, making continuous taxpayer education important.
He said the authority’s role was not only to introduce the new requirements but also to help taxpayers understand how to use the system properly.“Laws change over time and EFRIS is no different, we will take you through all the changes to make sure you use the system efficiently,” Aluma said.The training focused largely on the introduction of EFRIS to taxpayers who had become eligible under the new changes, while also giving existing EFRIS users an opportunity to refresh their knowledge and receive assistance with challenges they had encountered.
URA has stated that EFRIS requirements have been extended beyond VAT-registered businesses to taxpayers operating in specific gazetted sectors, including real estate activities. The authority has also indicated that taxpayer education and support will remain part of its compliance strategy for the 2026/27 financial year. During the Gulu engagement, participants raised concerns about difficulties in configuring their businesses on EFRIS. They also sought clarification on how rental arrears should be handled and how information relating to rental income should be captured when filing tax returns.Aluma explained that configuration simply involves telling the EFRIS system the type of business or service being provided. For real estate players, this means correctly indicating that their activities fall under real estate services.“Configuration is you telling us what you deal in, in this case, you are providing a service in real estate.
For rental arrears, please endeavor to indicate that information for recordkeeping and tax purposes, it will be useful when filing your return,” Aluma explained.The participants were also taken through a live demonstration of EFRIS, allowing them to see how the system works and how transactions can be captured and processed. The practical session was aimed at helping taxpayers overcome some of the challenges that may arise when using the digital platform.URA Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi has also been encouraging taxpayers and landlords to embrace EFRIS and ensure that electronic receipts reflect actual rental payments.
In a recent engagement with landlords, he said URA would provide technical support to help property owners comply with the system. “If we agree today and work together on the front of compliance, URA will dedicate a team to support you on EFRIS onboarding and provide written guidance and physical engagements to support you in regards to EFRIS,” Musinguzi said. INFORA MEDIA UGThe Commissioner General has also urged tenants to demand EFRIS receipts whenever they pay rent, with URA noting that such records help provide evidence of rental transactions and support proper tax administration.
Catherine Ayubo, Station Head at URA’s Gulu office, appreciated the real estate players for paying taxes and encouraged them not to remain stuck when they encounter challenges with EFRIS.“Don’t be stuck, if you haven’t understood something from here, come to office, we will hand hold you until you get how the system works,” Ayubo said.The Gulu engagement is part of a wider taxpayer education drive targeting real estate players in northern Uganda. Similar engagements have been planned for landlords and real estate investors in Adjumani, Yumbe, Moyo and Arua.Through the engagements, URA is seeking to give taxpayers a better understanding of the requirements while allowing them to raise practical challenges affecting compliance. The authority says EFRIS can also help businesses maintain transaction records, track business activities and make tax administration more efficient.
