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The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has enhanced its Taxonphone platform by including a payment module to make it possible for taxpayers, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) meet their obligations with less costs.
The new features will enable taxpayers to make payments for both domestic taxes and duties.
Taxonphone which has been in use since 2018 and supported by the European Union (EU), is expected to influence the increase in tax compliance, especially by the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
ZRA Commissioner General, Dingani Banda, announced on Monday in Lusaka at the enhancement of the platform that these features were aimed at making it less costly for SMEs in paying taxes.
Banda pointed out that ZRA aimed to put in place simplified, efficient and reliable business systems for use by its taxpayers.
He stated that in ensuring its success, ZRA would train SMEs on how to use the enhanced platform through various forums.
“In order to facilitate the uptake of taxonphone, the authority will train taxpayers on the use of the platform.
“As such, tax clinics will be mounted in various parts of the country for sensitisation and education on the use of the platform. This will also be done through the mobile tax offices,” he said.
Banda highlighted inclusion of electronic fiscal device authentication as one of the new functions on taxonphone.
This, he said, allowed taxpayers to check whether the devices invoice given to them was genuine.
It was his expectation that the enhancement of the new features would reduce the tax burden on ZRA, improve accuracy in processing taxpayers information while dealing with opportunities for corruption.
The Commissioner General later announced the addition of more new features on the platform during the third quarter of this year.
“During the third quarter of 2023, we plan to further enhance taxonphone for customers by including passenger clearance in order to simplify customs processing and reduce well-time at the borders for cross border traders who are mostly women, he said.
Speaking earlier, European Union Head of Corporation, Claudio Bacigaluei, said it was his expectation that the initiative would drastically reduce the numbers if taxpayers visiting ZRA offices.
European Union Head of Corporation, Claudio Bacigaluei
Bacigaluei said this would also increase the number of taxpayers as they would make payments from wherever they may be.
“This is the second milestone that we are launching after the mobile tax office in February this year.
“ZRA seeks to deliver better customer service by ensuring that taxpayers are satisfied through the implementation of electronic service platforms. This is cognisant of the fact that ZRA cannot be physically present everywhere in Zambia.
“Yet there is lack of connectivity that restricts the access to digital solutions in rural areas. In line with this, ZRA has recognised the importance to identify the challenges that their customers are facing and to develop solutions to overcome,” he said.
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