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.
Speaking at a two-day workshop in Lusaka , Banda reiterated the importance of paying taxes, noting that they were a key source of revenue for the government. He highlighted that it was the responsibility of every citizen to contribute towards the development of the country, adding that there was no need to rely on outsiders to improve 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 further noted that the government had been implementing various measures to improve tax collection, including the use of technology and the streamlining of tax processes. He added that the ZRA was committed to ensuring that taxpayers understood their obligations and were able to comply with the tax laws.
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.
The ZRA has been working to increase tax compliance in Zambia, which has been affected by high levels of informal economic activity and tax evasion. In 2020, the authority announced a tax amnesty program, which allowed taxpayers to settle their outstanding tax liabilities without incurring penalties or interest.
The government has also been implementing various tax policy reforms aimed at boosting revenue collection and improving 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’s efforts have started yielding positive results, with the authority reporting a 19% increase in tax revenue collection in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The authority has attributed the increase to improved compliance and the implementation of tax policy reforms.
The ZRA Commissioner General Dingani Banda has emphasized the importance of paying taxes for building a more civilised society in Zambia. He urged citizens to take responsibility for their country’s development and contribute towards the economy by complying with tax laws. The ZRA has been implementing various measures to improve tax compliance and increase revenue collection, including the use of technology, tax policy reforms, and the implementation of tax amnesty programs. The authority has reported positive results, and the efforts are expected to continue towards building a more prosperous Zambia.
