BURS boosts collection capacity

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) is strengthening its capacity to collect taxes and also audit taxpayers, using a special allocation of funds it receives from its annual collections. Finance minister Peggy Serame told Parliament last week that since the beginning of the 2020-2021 financial year, the number of tax auditors at the BURS had been increased from 69 to 97, while training was continuing to enhance audits into specialised sectors such as telecommunications, mining, retail and transfer pricing. The minister was responding to Selebi-Phikwe West legislator Dithapelo Keorapetse, who wanted details on how the BURS’ capacity to collect was being enhanced and the level of taxes the country was accumulating compared to the region and the continent. Serame said audits into the specialised sectors had begun and the possibility of examining the tourism sector was being explored. She said there had also been significant investment into the BURS’ ICT systems for revenue mobilisation and service delivery, while an online electronic billing system for Value Added Tax payments was due to be introduced. She said the BURS physical infrastructure was also being upgraded through the construction of one-stop border posts and staff houses around the country. Serame acknowledged that an IMF-led diagnostic assessment of the BURS operations had highlighted several areas of concern such as around accurate and reliable taxpayer information and knowledge of the potential taxpayer base. She said these areas were being addressed and the ministry was monitoring the progress.