The Reporter (Addis Ababa)
Kaleyesus Bekele
22 December 2007
Addis Ababa — The Ministry of Revenue (MoR) is to order businesses to use modern cash register machines in handling each business transaction.
The Council of Ministers recently approved a proclamation that forces business to carry out commercial transactions by using cash register machines with certain standards set in the proclamation.
Officials of MoR who gave a briefing to business outlet owners on Thursday said that the machines would enable tax authorities to be informed of each business transaction. Reta Alemayehu, head of the legal department with MoR, said that the cash register machines should be able to register each business transaction at the point of sales and transmit the data to the tax authority through a mobile network.
Reta said when a cash register machine failed to operate the business outlet should report the incident within two hours, adding that it should be maintained within 48 hours. He said importing companies who supply the machines should meet the required criteria and get licensed.
Suppliers, among other things, are required to present a one million birr bank guarantee.
Representatives of different business outlets have expressed their concern on the introduction of the new system to officials of MoR. A number of individuals representing various supermarkets said it was difficult for them to use the cash register machine for the business transactions carried out of their outlets "We import and supply products to shops, hotels and others. We use vans to sell products in different parts of the city. We should take the products to the doors of these outlets and it is impossible to use the machines in such cases," they said.
Reta told representatives and owners of supermarkets that each business transaction should be registered at the point of sales. "The machine does not recognize the transaction conducted outside it. The transaction should be done at the outlet," the said.
Different participants voiced their doubt in getting prompt maintenance service and trained cashiers who can properly operate the machines. Officials of MoR said that they would ensure the machine suppliers have the capacity to render what is required of them after sale service. "Before we grant the permit, we make sure that they have the capacity to provide the machines with the standards set in the directive. We evaluate the suppliers if they are capable enough to provide efficient maintenance service. We also make sure that they have adequate spare parts in stock. They are also required to provide training programs," officials of MoR said. The ministry would announce the date when the new directive will come into effect.
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