URA releases Checklist for Customs Clearing Agents who Want to renew Licences

Uganda has released a checklist for Customs Clearing Agents who want to renew their licenses.

In a notice, the taxman, spells out what is required of the agents in order to renew their licenses for the year 2022. Below is how the notice reads:

Uganda Revenue Authority wishes to notify all Customs Clearing Agents who intend to apply for renewal of their licenses for the year 2022 that in addition to the Customs Compliance checks, clearing agents will be required to carry out self-health checks using the checklist below;

*CLEARING AGENTS COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST*

1 All VAT registered Clearing Agents should be issuing e-invoices

2 Accurate profile information (email address, Telephone contact, physical address etc.)

3 All Directors should have TINs

4 Clearing Agents should have registered source(s) of income under their profiles

5 Clearing Agents should be registered for Income Tax, PAYE and any other applicable tax types

6. Clearing Agents who are withholding Tax Agents, should be registered for WHT and compliant with filing and payment requirements

7. Clearing Agents whose taxable turnover is greater than 150 million  must be registered for VAT

8 Clearing Agents must be compliant with filing of all applicable tax returns

9 Clearing Agents who file NIL Income Tax or VAT returns and yet they have transacted during the period will not be considered 

10 Clearing Agents should declare TINs of all their employees in the PAYE returns   

11 Clearing Agents should declare their Landlord TINs in their Income Tax returns

12 Clearing Agents should have their directors on the PAYE returns or ensure that they are filing individual Income Tax returns declaring income from all sources of income 

13 Clearing Agents with outstanding tax liability for any tax head should pay the outstanding tax liability or make an installation arrangement with their tax offices

14 Clearing Agent should not have running agency notices or defaulted MOUs 

15 Clearing Agents who have not made any Domestic Taxes payments from date of registration will not be considered

16 Clearing Agents with sales variances between their VAT and Income Tax returns will be required to reconcile the variances or amend their returns

17 Clearing Agents whose declared turnover/sales in the returns do not match the business transactions made in a year will be required to amend their returns.

*Please note that no license will be issued to any applicant with any of the above compliance gaps.* 

We therefore urge you to review your registration details, return declarations and payment history to address any compliance gaps before submitting your application to avoid last hour rejections and business interruptions.

For any additional information or assistance call our toll free line 0800117000/ 0417443432/ 0772 140241(not toll free) or email us at services@ura.go.ug or visit our office on 8th Floor URA Tower.

*“Developing Uganda Together”*