eBusiness Weekly
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) encourages taxpayers to review their tax affairs and make voluntary disclosures where there is any income omitted from returns submitted or where there are any tax obligations that the taxpayer may not have complied with.
The intention is to encourage voluntary compliance from taxpayers and avoid charging of penalties which affects business operations.
The ZIMRA Commissioner General published Public Notice No. 22 of 2018 which stated that: “In order to encourage taxpayers to come forward and volunteer disclosure of omitted income and other tax compliance obligations, the Commissioner General will grant full remission of penalties as part of an ongoing program notwithstanding the expiry of the amnesty on June 30, 2018.”
Application for voluntary disclosure
Any person can inform ZIMRA of the intention to make a voluntary disclosure and go ahead to make the voluntary disclosure.
This includes individuals, companies, associations, partners, partnerships, trusts, sole proprietors, small businesses, large businesses, local businesses, foreign business, and non-residents, among others.
Voluntary disclosure items
Any person who omitted any amounts of income from returns submitted can make a voluntary disclosure. The returns are for the period 30 June 2018 going back to any such period the income was omitted.
Any person who failed to comply with tax obligations can also make a voluntary disclosure. The tax obligations include registration, submitting returns on time, making payments on time, maintaining records and information, fiscalisation of operations, among others.
Any person who failed to declare goods and or services for duty purposes can also make a voluntary disclosure.
Where the taxpayer is in doubt of the way they are treating transaction for tax purposes and require an opinion from ZIMRA.
Requirements for making voluntary disclosure
A full disclosure should be made in the application form. Where information is not fully available estimates can be made and explanations/justifications given.
A voluntary disclosure Form should be completed and submitted to the nearest ZIMRA offices stating the omitted income and other compliance obligations not complied with.
Any issues that are already known by ZIMRA should not be included in the voluntary disclosure.
Voluntary Disclosures should be made before the Initial Interview is carried out for persons notified of an audit or investigation.
The disclosure does not include refunds not claimed.
The application shall include a proposed payment plan with justification for the proposal.
Outstanding registration, returns or information should addressed by December 31, 2018.
Processing applications
ZIMRA shall consider applications and respond within 30 days
Clients are permitted to provide any additional information during processing
Clients shall pay the tax due over the agreed payment plan period.
Benefits of making a voluntary disclosure
Penalties, civil penalties, fines and additional tax shall be waived in full
Outstanding tax debts are paid on agreed payment terms
Business is free from the burden of non-compliance
Access to tax clearances is opened for compliant taxpayers
Business managers and owners can focus on running their businesses thereby reducing costs of compliance.
NB: The interest on outstanding debts remains due and payable.
Assurances to the applicant
The information voluntarily disclosed shall not trigger an audit, investigation or prosecution
The voluntary disclosure benefits shall be withdrawn where the client fails to honour payment arrangements agreed on with ZIMRA, without seeking for alternative agreement payment arrangements.
For how long is the voluntary disclosure programme available to taxpayers?
Applications for voluntary disclosure shall be made from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
For more information, please approach your nearest ZIMRA office.
Disclaimer: This article was compiled by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) for information purposes only. ZIMRA shall not accept responsibility for loss or damage arising from use of material in this article and no liability will attach to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
To contact ZIMRA: WhatsApp line: +263 782 729 862; Visit our website: www. zimra.co.zw; Follow us on Twitter: @Zimra_11; Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZIMRA.11; Send us an e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]; Call us (Head Office): 04 –758891/5; 790813; 790814; 781345; 751624; 752731; e-TIP: http://ecustoms.zimra.co.zw/etip/
