Mauritius Tax Authority Collects Rs 1.04 Billion in Filing Season

The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) has announced that it received 156,406 income tax declarations and collected a total of Rs 1,044,808,303 — just over Rs 1 billion — during the latest tax filing period. The MRA is the government body responsible for administering tax collection in Mauritius, covering income tax, VAT, customs duties, and other levies. Every year, individuals and businesses earning above a certain threshold are required to file an annual tax return declaring their income. **What the numbers mean** The figure of 156,406 declarations gives a snapshot of formal tax participation in Mauritius — a country with a population of roughly 1.3 million. Not every resident is required to file: those whose income falls below the exemption threshold, or whose tax is fully deducted at source through Pay As You Earn (PAYE), may not need to submit a separate return. The Rs 1.04 billion collected represents taxes either self-declared or assessed as payable by filers — separate from amounts already withheld by employers throughout the year. **Mauritius's income tax system** Mauritius operates a flat income tax rate, currently set at 15% for most individuals, though a lower rate of 10% applies to taxpayers whose chargeable income falls below Rs 650,000 per year. The country also offers a range of income exemption thresholds based on personal circumstances — such as dependent children or elderly dependents — which reduce the taxable base for many filers. The MRA has in recent years pushed strongly for digital filing, and the majority of returns are now submitted online through its e-filing portal, making the process more accessible for both residents and Mauritians living abroad who still have local income to declare. **Why this matters** Tax revenue is a critical source of funding for public services in Mauritius, from healthcare and education to infrastructure. A high volume of returns and strong collections signal healthy compliance — a priority for the government as it seeks to widen the tax base and reduce dependence on indirect taxes like VAT. For businesses and individual taxpayers, the filing season is also an opportunity to claim refunds if excess tax was withheld during the year. The MRA has not yet released a breakdown of how the Rs 1.04 billion was distributed between individual and corporate filers, or what portion represents refunds due versus net revenue collected. Source: Le Defi Media