Zimra imports more fiscalised devices
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority will start supplying fiscalisation machines to tax payers to improve availability of the gadgets that improve revenue collection by the taxman, an official has said.
In an interview, Zimra acting commissioner-general Mr Happias Kuzvinzwa said the Government in consultation with the tax collector was forced to replace all suppliers of fiscalisation machines following price disparities.
“The prices of gadgets when we started fiscalisation were pitched at a much high price and that made the Government replace all the suppliers that were registered and tried to come up with a new list of fiscalised machine suppliers who have demonstrated that they have the expertise to man the fiscalised gadgets and assist the clients with the level of service that commensurate with the technical abilities of the system and gadgets,” said Mr Kunzvinzwa said.
He said most of the fiscalised gadgets suppliers were even demanding deposits before delivering. The fiscal devices’ cost range from $1 200 to $2 000 while one can spend about $250 if they acquire one on their own from South Africa.
“We have also looked at the resourcefulness of the companies that will participate in the fiscal gadget supply and it is only those that have demonstrated that they have the resources to import fiscal gadgets at affordable prices and making sure that the fiscal gadgets are available for tax payers as and when they want to fiscalise.
“So by making sure that the qualification to be a fiscal supplier embraces both technical expertise and resourcefulness of the company, we are assured and guaranteed that the prices would be affordable because these people have the resources. It is also an issue of economies of scale, when you import more gadgets then the cost is bound to be reduced but when you import one by one like a cross border trader when you are a company then of course your fixed and variable costs remain high.”
He said Zimra’s own consignment of fiscalised machines was expected this month.
“Zimra is also going to participate as a fiscalised machine supplier and we believe that from that thrust we will be the price setters of the gadgets that will come into the country and I think in a few months’ time we should see gadgets coming, infact Zimra’s first consignment is expected in the cowuntry by mid or towards the end of the month. The manufacturers have finished manufacturing the order and are in the process of shipping that consignment. So if all goes well within 14 to 21 days we will have goods supplied by Zimra that are at affordable prices,” said Mr Kunzinzwa.
About 12 000 businesses in the country have fiscalised their operations but Mr Kunzinzwa said the figure could be higher