When tax authorities challenge your position, you need experienced advocates on your side. We resolve disputes efficiently — before, during, and after formal litigation — protecting your rights and keeping your business focused.
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
When the Taxman Comes, We Stand Between You.
When tax disagreements arise, you need experienced professionals on your side — before, during, and after formal litigation.
A URA assessment or audit notification is not the end — but it demands an immediate, expert response. The difference between a well-managed dispute and an expensive, drawn-out ordeal often comes down to how quickly and professionally you engage. At Demo Consult, we have been navigating Uganda’s tax dispute landscape for over a decade, appearing before URA, the Tax Appeals Tribunal, and the courts.
Whether it’s an unfair assessment, a VAT audit challenge, penalties from missed filings, or a complex legal tax matter — our team ensures your rights are fully protected while your business stays focused on what matters. We don’t just react to disputes; we help you anticipate and prevent them.
Understanding the URA
Dispute Resolution Process
Every dispute follows a structured legal pathway. Knowing where you stand — and what comes next — is the first step to protecting your business. We guide you through every stage.
URA Issues a Tax Assessment or Audit Notification
Uganda Revenue Authority issues a Notice of Assessment (NoA) or launches a field audit. This officially triggers the dispute window. The business receives the notice and must decide how to respond.
Demo Consult Reviews Your Position & Files a Formal Objection
We conduct a rapid but thorough review of the assessment, gather supporting evidence, and draft a compelling formal objection. We submit this directly to URA with all documentary evidence, clearly articulating the legal and factual grounds for challenging the assessment.
URA Reviews the Objection & Issues a Ruling
URA considers the objection and issues an Objection Decision — either allowing, partially allowing, or disallowing the objection. We monitor the process, respond to any additional URA queries, and explore Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) options where appropriate to achieve an efficient settlement.
Appeal to the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT)
If URA's decision is unsatisfactory, we file an appeal to the Tax Appeals Tribunal within 30 days. We prepare the full appeal bundle, present oral arguments, and cross-examine URA's position. The TAT is an independent forum and frequently rules in favour of taxpayers when cases are properly argued.
High Court & Beyond
For matters involving points of law or constitutional questions, disputes may proceed to the High Court. We collaborate closely with your legal counsel, contributing the technical tax expertise that underpins a credible litigation strategy — from document bundling and witness preparation through to final submission.
Six Ways We Defend Your Position
From filing the first objection to appearing in court — we provide end-to-end representation across Uganda's entire tax dispute landscape.
Objection Filing & Representation
The formal objection is the most critical step in any tax dispute. A well-drafted objection, supported by robust documentary evidence and a compelling legal argument, often resolves the matter at source — before it escalates to the TAT or courts. Our team drafts and submits every objection with meticulous care, engaging URA directly on your behalf throughout the process.
- Assessment review & grounds analysis
- Drafting & submitting formal objections to URA
- Preparing & organising documentary evidence
- Direct engagement with URA on your behalf
- Monitoring timelines & response deadlines
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Litigation is expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. Where possible, we pursue Alternative Dispute Resolution — using URA's own ADR mechanism to reach negotiated settlements that protect your business interests without the financial and reputational cost of formal proceedings. Many disputes are most effectively resolved through structured negotiation by a skilled intermediary.
- Negotiation & mediation with tax authorities
- Facilitation via URA's ADR mechanism
- Tax settlement & payment plan facilitation
- Win-win approaches for sustainable resolution
- Penalty & interest reduction strategies
TAT Appeals & Court Litigation
When negotiation fails, we escalate with precision. Our team prepares comprehensive appeals to the Tax Appeals Tribunal — Uganda's specialist independent forum for tax disputes — and supports High Court proceedings where necessary. We work seamlessly with your legal counsel, supplying the deep technical tax expertise that underpins a winning case.
- Preparing Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT) submissions
- High Court tax-related proceedings support
- Collaboration with legal counsel on strategy
- Document bundling & evidence preparation
- Expert witness & technical tax testimony
Tax Audit Dispute Management
A URA audit is not just a compliance review — it is an adversarial process that can expose your business to significant additional tax liabilities if not handled with care. We stand beside you throughout the audit, responding to queries, reconciling disputed figures, and challenging unreasonable positions taken by auditors on both technical and industry-specific grounds.
- Review & response to URA audit queries
- Reconciliation of disputed figures
- Advocacy on industry practices & technical treatments
- Minimisation of penalties & interest exposure
- Post-audit compliance improvement
Compliance Correction & Regularisation
Many tax disputes stem from past non-compliance — missed filings, incorrect declarations, or misunderstood obligations. Proactively regularising these issues before URA identifies them is always the better strategy. We guide businesses through voluntary disclosure, penalty waiver applications, and compliance improvement plans to achieve the cleanest possible position.
- Voluntary disclosures & error corrections
- Penalty waiver negotiations with URA
- Compliance improvement plan preparation
- Settlement facilitation with tax authorities
- Tax health check & risk assessment
Ongoing Tax Legal Advisory
The best dispute is the one that never happens. Our ongoing tax legal advisory service embeds dispute-prevention thinking into your business operations — reviewing contracts for embedded tax risk, structuring transactions for compliance, keeping your team informed of regulatory changes, and building the internal knowledge that keeps URA from your door.
- Contract review for hidden tax risk
- Transaction structuring for compliance
- Regulatory change monitoring & briefings
- Staff training on tax risk & obligations
- Pre-transaction & pre-audit risk reviews
Frequently Asked
Questions
Have a dispute-specific question? We offer a free, confidential case review — no obligation attached.
Facing a Tax Dispute?
Don't Face It Alone.
Every day without professional representation is a day the other side is preparing their case. Contact Demo Consult for a free, confidential case review — and let us assess your position today.
