Electronic Filing (E-Filing) of individual income tax returns (employee and self-employed) was officially launched on the 1st of March 2010.  Since then, around 40% of individual income tax returns were received electronically. To reach this objective, the MRA communicated through e-mails to all companies and sent its officers at every main organization to explain the benefits of E-filing and exhort the employers to allow their employees to file their returns electronically at their work place.

E-filing leaflets and posters were distributed through post and e-mails and placed on MRA website.All the Ministries, educational institutions and major companies affixed the posters for e-filing of FITA centres on their notice boards.

The local media contributed a lot to disseminate the relevant information.  Television and radio programmes (live and recorded) were held regularly during the month and appropriate advertisements were also produced internally by the Taxpayer Education and Communication Department of the MRA and sent to targetted audience.

The advantages of E-filing (simple, convenient, automatic tax calculation, quick refund and the offer at 20 prizes totaling Rs 210,000) were lengthily explained and used as incentives to promote the use of Internet to send tax returns.  The taxpayers were also encouraged to pay their taxes through the Internet Banking Services offered by 6 banking institutions.

During the month of March/April, the MRA organized two weekends of Free Income Tax Assistance (FITA) around the island (16 centres). 

The objective was to bring MRA closer to the taxpayers by offering its services at their doorsteps.  Payments were also accepted in these 16 regional tax assistance centres. Around 100 MRA officers were mobilized for this activity and it attracted many taxpayers. As last year, the MRA provided E-filing facilities in all FITA centres.

Once again, Rodrigues Island also hosted a FITA activity. Officers from the MRA were sent to Rodrigues and provided assistance to some 300 taxpayers.

To top it all, the MRA participated in the SME Trade Fair at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC) at Pailles from 31st March to 4th April 2010 to help small and medium Enterprises (SME) to better understand their rights and obligations regarding several tax issues.