TAX IMPORTANCE COMPLIANCEOF KEEPINGIS A GAME CONFIDENTIAL CHANGER TAX FOR INFORMATIONALL BUSINESSES SAFE

TAXvital information and commonly is confiignored dential characteristic company inforof determining mation. a It tax is therefore balance is important tax compliance. that taxpayers In take this article, due diligence we will in try keeping and share their some information highlights safe. on For why Zambia tax compliance Revenue Authority, is important as a cusin determining todian of tax information, a tax balance the of issue any of type. confidentiality is taken Tax seriously. compliance is a com- plex way of saying you are

This is because the Authorfiling all required returns ity realizes that correct inforand paying taxes on time. The mation biggest in the challenge wrong hands with is most dangerous individuals and detrimental and com- to panies the owner is that of the they information. are always resolving In this regard, past all tax tax liabilities matters while are treated creating with new the utmost liabili- ties. confidentiality to safeguard taxpayers’ There are information. two major fac- ets As of we tax may compliance be aware, and taxthese payers’ are information filing returns is confion time dential and under paying the various on time tax (especially laws the Authority before the adminisdue dates). ters. For if you instance, adhere under to these the simple provisions facets, of Sections compliance 21 of is then the ZRA a straightforward Act, Cap 321; Section pro- cess. 175 of This the Customs will ensure and you Exavoid cise Act, penalties Cap 322; and Section interests 8 of which the Income are Tax always Act, a Cap night- 323; mare and Section to sort 37A out. of the Value Added The Authority Tax Act, Cap has 331, simpli- it is a criminal offense to extract, fied copy all or these print processes taxpayer with data the and submit vigorous it to any technologi- unauthocal rized transformation entity. agenda meant To protect to improve taxpayers taxpayer whose focus information or customer is in our custody, experi- ence. this is why The we Authority always endeavhas a new or to TaxOnline exhibit high system levels of that inallows tegrity and you confidentiality to register, file in returns our information and make disseminapayments online. The new system is tion dealings. very user-friendly and you

To make sure that compado not need to be an expert to ny navigate information and sort goes out only your to tax the issues. intended recipients, we always The new carry TaxOnline out some basic sys- tem checks is complimented when people comwith TaxOnphone municate with which us via uses various the USSD platforms technology to seek for by example sim- ply change typing of login *858# credentials from any or mobile change of phone official and contact you will debe tails able about to a register, company file, or simand make ply to payments. carry out any requested change This on is tax further account. linked to most In this payment technological platforms era, raging taxpayers from get to banks, communicate mobile network with the Authority operators regarding such as Airtel, their tax MTN, issues Zamtel, via different and 543 platforms Konse such Konse as whose telephone, sys- tem email, allows hard taxpayers copy letters, to pay and using sometimes whats app. through official social From media the Tax platforms. Authority As perspective, much as these Tax are the Adminis- official communication channels, technology has also made it very difficult to ascertain whether the one initiating the communication is the officially authorized person for the company.

So with such circumstances tration has two facets, vol- untary tax compliance, and enforcement. If you do not voluntarily comply by reg- istering, how do companies filing correct safeguard and truthful their confidential returns, tax informamaking payments tion? As we for endeavor your tax to prolia- bilities, tect taxpayers’ the Authority information has it various is also expected forms that of corrective taxpayers and take collective precautions action in safeguardlike tax assessments ing their confidential for undeclared tax intax formation. liabilities. For collection purposes, Here are the the Authority few tips can that issue may be a helped: demand notice, gar- nishments, 1. Safeguarding warrants compaof dis- ny login credentials to your

TaxOnline account. This will ensure that there the credentials don’t end up in the wrong hands thereby exposing the company. If the company feels unauthorized person may have access to the credentials tress, and sometimes prose- cutions.

The Authority has been very flexible and allowing every the company business needs to make to immegood of diately their change tax account the credentials. by al- lowing 2. Update them the to enter contact into dea tails time of the to pay contact agreements immediwith ately a there condition is a change that agreed so that terms any communication are honored. A goes lot of to businesses the correct company have benefitted details. from The contact this facility details and include im- proved company their email, liquidity phone numand performance bers, and address. because all tax payments 3. Communicate were spaced with and the Authority immediately there paid is a change in installments. in terms of This the aufa- cility thorized has person many managing advantages the to company’s the taxpayer tax account. as it allows This the may taxpayer be the accountant some financial or the planning tax agent responsible scheme with for filing the support company of returns. the tax Authority.

The 4. For new those approach companies by that the Zambia use tax agents, Revenue they Authority need to is communicate to be a strategic immediately business partner they change that offers the tax all agent tax-re- so lated consultancy and solu- that the agent no longer has tions to the taxpayers to help access to the company's offithem grow their businesses. cial Therefore, information. the authority has 5. even When moved you write a step to fur- us ther through by opening our email new address cus- tomer i.e. advice@ service zra.org.zm ensure centers in various you use malls an official such letterhead as ECL mall signed in by Kitwe, the directors East of park, the and company cosmopolitan to show mall authenin Lusaka ticity. This to offer is why free we tax always ed- ucation, advise those training that on just how call to us use asking the for systems, initiation registering of any businesses change to put and it helping in writing tax- on payers a company with letterhead compliance so and that free we guarantee tax consultancy. authenticity.

All 6. Know these to what initiatives extent are the meant company to can improve use a tax taxpayer agent. experience Remember that and the improve company tax compliance needs to give among the agent the indi- perviduals mission and to do business certain tasks com- on munity behalf of countrywide. the company. Even if the company uses a tax agent

Remember the secret of any business success is tax compliance from the begin- ning and every day is a new beginning.

Lastly, for those registered for Value Added Tax( VAT), please take note that the 16% the official vat charged contact on details your cli- of ents the company is not your should money be mainbut a tained. Government This will resource, ensure that be- cause the company you are just receives a collec- any tion communication agent for VAT from hence ZRA we appeal and not that the agent. you should al- ways We be hope prudent that with these mon- few ey tips collected will help on the behalf company of Government safeguard its and confidential remit it on tax time. information. The biggest The growth mistake of is a that company most businesses lies in the strategic mix up the information VAT collected it keeps on to behalf itself of including the government its tax portfolio. and end up Help spending us to it keep hence your cre- tax ating information tax liabilities confidential and tax by burdens doing the for right their thing. businesses. Ensure your My Tax, demographic Your Tax, our company Des- tiny. details are up to date all the time.