ZRA to roll out more electronic devices

THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) is expecting an additional 5,000 electronic devices which will be rolled out to businesses houses countrywide to help maximise the collection of tax.

The exercise is expected to begin in May this year.

ZRA commissioner modernisation and corporate strategy Dingani, explained that this comes after a successful implementation of the first phase of the project were 2,000 devices were rolled out to Lusaka and the Copperbelt.Mr Banda explained that the authority would this year install an additional 5,000 devices

Mr Banda said this when a ZRA delegation comprising of Commission General Kingsley Chanda and other senior officials toured Choppies Supermarket in Kabulonga to check on the implementation of the system yesterday.

“We expect about 5,000 devices which comprise of 3,000 electronic signature devices and 2,000 electronic devices. The roll-out should start around May this year.

“We are just doing some final processes to have them configured, but we already have 2,000 EFD which are on the market [in Lusaka and Copperbelt],” he said.ZRA is implementing the EFDs in a quest to fight non-compliance, particularly as regards to sales and value-added tax payable on sales.

Mr Banda said the authority will ensure that most chain stores embrace the EFDs to increase tax compliance levels by the business community.

Mr Banda said the system would help in sealing loopholes of tax evasion when fully institutionalised in the ZRA system across the country.

“We are already doing a pilot project with Shoprite but, we would like to migrate to full implementation with others to expedite their efforts so that all the major chain stores are connected to the EFDs,” he said.