Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) is increasingly reaching out to more schools with the aim of instilling in students values related to voluntary tax compliance and their social responsibility as citizens.
This is premised on the fact that human beings world over don’t want to pay taxes. However, with URA’s initiative that has seen the tax body establish 25 tax clubs country wide so far, Uganda should have tax compliant generations in the near future.
The latest tax education outreach has been in the East covering schools of; Bukedea Lifeline S.S, Busia S.S, Bukedea S.S, Amus College and Tororo Girls school.
According to Isaac Gyagenda, URA officer in charge of Tax education-outreach, this is part of URA’s outreach programs intended to create a tax alert and compliant generation.
“Studies have also shown that taxpayer’s compliance can be affected by a number of factors but education is key,” Gyagenda says, adding: “When introduced in the early years, it could help in creating taxpayers who understand their responsibility when it comes to their country’s taxation system.”
In all secondary schools where URA has been, a “tax cabinet” has been formed to continue with the tax messages.
URA says they are determined to cover all schools but those that request to be visited are given top priority.
The students are given tax quizzes and the best ones are rewarded.
URA says the students’ response to this activity has been overwhelming especially from the turn up and their response to tax quizzes.
