By Staff Reporter

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) says it is closing in on its target of registering 9,000 taxpayers under the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS), with 8,428 businesses already enrolled, describing the progress as a strong indication that businesses are increasingly embracing the digital tax platform.

The update was provided by MRA spokesperson Wilma Chalulu during a media briefing in Lilongwe, where she said the authority was encouraged by the level of compliance despite the resistance that accompanied the introduction of the system earlier this year.

According to Chalulu, the registration figures demonstrate that many businesses now appreciate the importance of the Electronic Invoicing System in improving tax administration and creating a more transparent business environment.

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“We are encouraged by the response we have received from taxpayers. We are getting closer to our target of registering 9,000 businesses, which reflects growing compliance and cooperation from the business community,” she said.

The Electronic Invoicing System is one of the key reforms introduced by MRA to modernise tax administration by enabling businesses to issue invoices electronically in real time. The system is expected to reduce tax evasion, improve record keeping and make tax monitoring more efficient.

Chalulu attributed part of the authority’s strong revenue performance during the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year to the successful implementation of the Electronic Invoicing System alongside other tax administration reforms.

She disclosed that MRA collected MK1.398 trillion during the first quarter, exceeding its revenue target of MK1.378 trillion by approximately MK20 billion.

The performance, she said, demonstrates the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to strengthen tax compliance while broadening the country’s revenue base.

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“Our revenue performance has been encouraging. The Electronic Invoicing System has contributed positively alongside other compliance initiatives, enabling us to surpass our quarterly revenue target,” Chalulu said.

She added that increased compliance provides government with additional resources needed to finance development projects, improve public service delivery and support essential sectors such as health, education, agriculture and infrastructure.

Chalulu therefore appealed to businesses that are yet to register for the Electronic Invoicing System to do so without delay, emphasizing that compliance with tax laws benefits the entire country.

She also urged individuals and companies to fulfil their tax obligations consistently, saying domestic revenue remains one of the government’s most reliable sources of funding.

“Taxes are essential for national development. Every compliant taxpayer contributes towards building roads, improving hospitals, supporting schools and delivering other public services that benefit Malawians,” she said.

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The Electronic Invoicing System was introduced as part of government’s broader strategy to digitise revenue collection and minimise opportunities for tax fraud. Under the system, businesses generate invoices electronically, allowing tax authorities to monitor transactions more accurately while improving accountability.

Its rollout, however, was not without controversy.

In May this year, several major wholesale and retail traders across Malawi temporarily shut down their businesses in protest against the mandatory implementation of the system. The traders raised concerns over implementation costs, operational challenges and the pace at which the new requirements were introduced.

The temporary business closures disrupted trading activities in several towns before government and representatives of the business community initiated dialogue aimed at addressing the concerns.

Following those engagements, businesses gradually resumed operations while discussions on implementation continued.

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Despite the initial resistance, the latest registration figures suggest that compliance has continued to improve as more businesses adopt the digital platform.

With only a few hundred businesses remaining before reaching its target, MRA says it remains optimistic that the Electronic Invoicing System will continue strengthening tax administration, increasing transparency in commercial transactions and enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation.

The authority believes sustained cooperation between taxpayers and government will be crucial in ensuring that Malawi continues to improve tax compliance while generating the resources needed to support economic growth and national development.