ZRA counsels taxpayers
TAXPAYERS should follow the correct procedure when importing goods in the country in order to avoid losses, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has advised.
ZRA Corporate Communication Manager, Topsy Sikalinda, said importers paid less taxes when they followed the correct procedure when bringing goods in Zambia.
Mr Sikalinda said bringing smuggled goods into the country attracted high taxes through penalties.
He said ZRA had taken the fight against smuggling seriously as it was detrimental to the economy.
Mr Sikalinda warned that the authority had been equipped with sophisticated equipment to fight smuggling.
He was speaking yesterday in Chirundu during the donation of various assorted smuggled goods to four organisations.
“As an authority we are taking the fight against smuggling very seriously we have noted that there has been a lot of smuggling that has been happening through white colour smuggling where you deliberately misclassify and under value items. “This is wrong. We have said many at times that please declare the correct taxes because you will pay the correct taxes and it is a cheaper way of doing business,” Mr Sikalinda said.
Mr Sikalinda said ZRA had begun the process of installing cameras in all stations to promote transparency and improve compliance
He also said the authority would ensure that all the proceeds from smuggling activities were donated to various organisations countrywide.
The donated items valued at K205,000 included 18 washing dishes, two beds, one photocopying machine, 256 litres of cooking oil, 27,240 kg of sugar, 630 litres of fuel and four stools.
ZRA destroyed smuggled cigarettes worth K115, 600.
One of the recipients, Mudzi Wa Moyo Orphanage coordinator, Sheila Banda, thanked ZRA for the donation.
Sister Banda acknowledged that this was not the first time the authority was assisting the orphanage.
This is wrong. We have said many at times that please declare the correct taxes because you will pay the correct taxes and it is a cheaper way of doing business