Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Dingani Banda has emphasized the need for people to contribute to creating a more civilized society in an effort to persuade citizens to pay their taxes.
Banda emphasized the significance of paying taxes while pointing out that they are a major source of income for the government during a two-day workshop in Lusaka. He stressed that it was the obligation of every person to contribute towards the development of the country, adding that there was no need to rely on outsiders to better Zambia’s civilisation.
“Colleagues, you will agree with me that the onus of developing Zambia lies on us, the Zambian people. We cannot continue to depend on others to come and improve our civilisation. We need to take responsibility and pay our taxes to build a more civilised economy,” Banda said.
The Commissioner General also mentioned the use of technology and streamlining of tax procedures as measures the government had been putting into place to increase tax collection. He added that the ZRA was committed to ensuring that taxpayers knew their obligations and were able to comply with the tax rules.
Banda also urged citizens to report any tax evasion or fraud, noting that such actions had a negative impact on the economy and hindered development efforts. He emphasized that the ZRA had put in place measures to deal with tax evaders and would not hesitate to take legal action against those found to be breaking the law.
Zambia, which has been impacted by high levels of informal economic activity and tax evasion, has been working to improve tax compliance. A tax amnesty program that the authority announced in 2020 allowed taxpayers to settle their unpaid tax debts without facing penalties or interest.
The administration has also been implementing several tax policy measures aimed at boosting revenue collection and strengthening the business environment. These include the introduction of a simplified tax regime for small businesses and the removal of import duty on selected agricultural products.
The ZRA reports that tax revenue collection increased by 19% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, indicating that the authority’s efforts have begun to bear fruit. The increase has been attributed by the authority to improved compliance and the implementation of changes to tax laws.
In a bid to encourage citizens to pay their taxes, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Dingani Banda has emphasized the need for people to contribute towards building a more civilised society.
At a two-day workshop in Lusaka, Banda emphasized the value of paying taxes, pointing out that they are a major source of funding for the state. There was no need to rely on outsiders to advance Zambia’s civilisation, he said, highlighting that it was the duty of every citizen to contribute to the development of the country.
