ZRA extends TPIN registration deadline
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU and LINDA SOKO-TEMBO THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has extended the deadline for Tax Payer Identification Numbers (TPIN) to June 30 from March 31 to allow more taxpayers an opportunity to register.
A TPIN is a unique identification that is useful to anyone currently or intends to deal with ZRA in future.
Under the Income Tax Act Section 45B, it is a legal requirement that every Bank Account Holder should have a TPIN.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda, explained that the extension of the deadline was to allow more taxpayers and bank account holders to register and avoid being inconvenienced.
Mr. Sikalinda said currently ZRA had registered a total of 406,576 TPIN between January 2017 and February 2018.
“The authority wishes to advise all those that have obtained their TPINs to have them submitted to their respective banks. It is important to note that ZRA will not be deducting any amount of money deposited into people’s bank accounts as insinuated by sections of social media,” he explained.
Mr. Sikalinda said during the tax….in Lusaka yesterday that ZRA was currently automating the online TPIN registration process which would allow taxpayers get their numbers instantly upon application.
“We are already engaging with the banks through the Bankers Association of Zambia to give access to the institutions on our Tax Online portal.
This will translate into banks doing actual TPIN registrations for their customers countrywide,” he said.
He also said ZRA had opened an office at the Lusaka Civic Centre and expanded the office at ministry of Lands in Lusaka as part of decentralisation and taking services closer to the people.
Mr. Sikalinda further said the authority would soon open new offices in selected shopping malls in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe.
Meanwhile, ZRA is currently conducting community taxpayer awareness in Matero at the new Matero shopping mall.
Mr. Sikalinda said the exercise which started yesterday would continue to today where the authority was giving out TPINs instantly.
“We are targeting to do tax education and awareness through our outreach programmes in various parts of the country. In the first week of April this year, we should be able to kick out our mass media campaign on tax related matters radio and TV shows, billboards,” he said.