Malawi Confirms Mandatory VAT E‑Invoicing from 1st May 2026
The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has confirmed that its Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) will become mandatory for all VAT-registered businesses from 1 May 2026, giving companies a clear target for full adoption. The EIS replaces the legacy Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs), representing a major step toward structured invoice reporting and real-time VAT data capture.
The system has been in pilot since August 2025, but early feedback from businesses indicated that the initial timeline was too tight. The May 2026 deadline provides SMEs and larger enterprises with sufficient time to integrate the EIS into existing accounting and ERP systems, train staff, and test API connections with the MRA.
Once operational, only EIS-issued e-invoices will be accepted for VAT deduction purposes, strengthening the audit trail and improving compliance. The platform supports both B2B and B2C transactions, with real-time reporting ensuring the MRA can monitor VAT collections more accurately and detect irregularities early.
The move aligns Malawi with broader regional trends in digital VAT enforcement, following similar initiatives in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire, where real-time e-invoicing is reshaping compliance practices. With the 1 May 2026 date now confirmed, businesses have a clear window to complete the transition and ensure uninterrupted VAT compliance.
Sources: IT Web