ZRA TO REDUCE OUTSTANDING TRANSACTIONS

…through new system

A SYSTEM to help reduce the number of outstanding transactions that contribute to the frequent automatic suspension of the agents’ accounts will this year be rolled out by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

The module will start with a pilot phase next month and final implementation is expected to be rolled out by June this year, says ZRA Commissioner General, Kingsley Chanda.

Mr Chanda said the measure would ensure that an agent who was not officially appointed by the importer/ exporter would not have access to the system.

“Previously, importers and exporters would appoint agents manually and other unauthorised agents would clear goods without the knowledge of the importer or exporter.

“In case the importer or exporter defaults, the burden would be on the clearing company to settle the outstanding dues which has proved to be expensive and an unnecessary inconvenience for the Customs clearing industry,” he said in a statement.

Mr Chanda said the operationalisation of the new module on Asycuda World would require Customs clearing agents to obtain authority from the owners of Tax Payers Identification

Numbers (TPINs) through the ZRA platform before clearing the goods with Customs.

Ultimately, he said, ZRA wanted to ensure accountability and transparency in the import and export of good in and out of the country.

Mr Chanda said the new module would also help mitigate TPIN abuse by linking the TPIN of the Importer/ Exporter to the TPIN of the Appointed clearing agent.

He indicated that customs clearing agents were also poised to benefit from the new module because only authorised persons will present or select their companies on the system.

Mr Chanda said ZRA had developed the new module in its quest to strengthen taxpayer focus and enhance Customer experience while improving controls. “The Authority has developed a module on the Customs management system that will now give access to importers and exporters to electronically appoint Customs clearing agents on the system with an option to drop and add others depending on their business needs,” he said.