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Bookkeeping for Mauritius SMEs: Chart of Accounts & MRA-Ready Records
Set up your books so they survive an MRA audit. A recommended chart of accounts for a Mauritian SME plus record-retention rules.
Anexa Biz May 2, 2025 7 min read
Why the chart of accounts matters
A well-designed chart of accounts (COA) makes VAT filing, tax filing and management reporting almost automatic. A poorly-designed COA will cost you hours of reclassification every quarter.
Recommended top-level structure
| Range | Category |
|---|---|
| 1000–1999 | Assets (current + non-current) |
| 2000–2999 | Liabilities |
| 3000–3999 | Equity |
| 4000–4999 | Revenue |
| 5000–5999 | Cost of Sales |
| 6000–7999 | Operating expenses |
| 8000–8999 | Other income / non-operating |
| 9000–9999 | Tax & non-cash charges |
Mauritius-specific accounts to include
- VAT Input, VAT Output, VAT Payable/Recoverable.
- PAYE Payable, CSG Payable, NSF Payable, HRDC, PRGF Payable.
- CSR Fund and CCR Levy Payable.
- TDS Withheld (rent, professional fees, interest).
- Foreign-currency revaluation reserve for GBCs.
MRA record-retention rules
Under the Income Tax Act and VAT Act, records must be kept for at least 5 years after the end of the year of assessment to which they relate. GBCs must keep records for at least 7 years.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need to keep paper invoices?
No. Electronic copies are acceptable provided they are unaltered, legible and produced within a reasonable time on MRA request.
Q. How long must I keep VAT invoices?
5 years from the end of the taxable period. GBCs and financial institutions keep records for 7 years.