The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has maintained its stance on the introduction of the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS), saying the system is part of ongoing efforts to modernise tax administration and improve service delivery.
The EIS is designed to issue electronic tax invoices, manage stock records and transmit transaction data to the MRA in real time to ensure accuracy and compliance. It was launched on May 1, 2026, replacing Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) introduced in 2014.
MRA Commissioner General Felix Tambulasi confirmed the development on Tuesday during a press briefing held at Msonkho House in Blantyre.
Tambulasi said the system has been introduced to address challenges associated with EFDs and urged traders to embrace the new technology.
“EIS has been fully rolled out. Out of 9,000 Value Added Tax operators, 7,500 have already registered with EIS. We encourage the remaining operators to come on board,” he said.
He said the EFD system has become outdated and less efficient for modern tax administration.
“While EFDs marked an important step towards automation at the time, they have since become outdated, costly and inefficient for modern business operations,” he said.
Tambulasi added that MRA remains committed to supporting businesses through free technical assistance and continued stakeholder engagement.
He said the authority has also extended the implementation period on three occasions to allow more traders to comply.
“MRA has demonstrated flexibility and commitment to stakeholder engagement by extending the implementation period on three occasions,” he said.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the EIS has faced resistance from some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country, with some traders arguing that the system could affect their businesses. Some shops in Limbe and Lilongwe townships have reportedly closed in protest.
In the 2026/27 National Budget, government raised the VAT threshold from K25 million to K50 million to ease compliance for small scale enterprises.
