MRA - Environmentally Friendly Organisation
Two weeks after the end
of the Filing Season 2009 for individual taxpayers, the
Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) organized a ceremony for
the lottery draw of the 16 winners of the MRA E-Filing
Lottery Scheme. This scheme concerned individual taxpayers
(Income Tax Form 1A & Income Tax Form 1) who filed their
income tax returns electronically for the Year of Assessment
2009-2010. The objective was to motivate taxpayers to file
their returns electronically and, as far as possible, effect
their payments through Internet Banking facilities made
available by 5 banking institutions.
The Ceremony was
organized at the Head Quarters of the MRA, Ehram Court, Port
Louis, Mauritius on the 14th October 2009. The
Chairperson of the Mauritius Export Association (MEXA), Mr
Ahmed Parkar, who was the Chief Guest of this event,
proceeded to draw the first prize of Rs 25 000 in the
presence of the Chairperson, MRA, Mr Vasdev Hassamal, the
Director General, MRA, Mr Sudhamo Lal, Mr Dan Faugoo,
Executive Director of the National Computer Board (NCB) as
well as the senior staff of the MRA and a representative of
the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA).
The other prizes (5
prizes of Rs 15 000 each and 10 prizes of Rs 10 000 each)
were drawn by the President of the Mauritius Taxpayers
Association and two members of the public. The Director
General, MRA, Mr Sudhamo Lal, laid emphasis on the strategy
of the MRA to become an Environmentally Friendly
Organisation in line with the government’s project for a
sustainable island ( Maurice Ile Durable). He noted that for
the filing season 2009 (June 2008-July 2009) more than 25
000 taxpayers have opted for e-filing, as compared to less
than 10 000 for the filing season 2008. Mr Lal wished that
this figure will increase for the next filing season.
The winners were invited to collect their prizes at the seat of the MRA, Port Louis, on the 21st of October 2009. The winner of the first prize, Mr Imraan Elahibaksh, explained that he was advised by MRA officers to file a return electronically and received help to file his return on a dedicated Internet Kiosk at the MRA Headquarters. The prizes were remitted to the winners by the Acting Director General, Mr M. Hannelas, The Director of the Operational Services Department, Mr D. Ramdin and the Director of the Information System Department, Mr S. Sonah and Mr T. Moorghen, office-in-Charge of the Taxpayer Education and Communication Department.