ZRA recovers K124,000 in motor vehicle amnesty

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 12:03:13 +0000

THE Zambia Revenue Authority has recovered K124, 385.78 in taxes in the on-going motor vehicle amnesty in which 24 vehicles were assessed from its Kitwe and Lusaka offices.

In a statement, ZRA said the response had been good though there are others who are still doubting and suspect the amnesty ‘‘sounds too good to be true’’.

As the deadline for the amnesty draws closer, the authority is encouraging members of the public to come forward and have their vehicles assessed in order not to be found wanting after the expiry of the amnesty.

‘‘ZRA has made a commitment and shall keep its words in order to build more trust with the taxpayers.

“It will only collect the necessary information from the taxpayer, do the computation of the duty and notify the motor vehicle owner without impounding the vehicle,” read the statement.

‘‘The relief has not been given in order to trap or punish people but to give all the affected persons and businesses an opportunity to regularise their tax affairs on motor vehicles.’’

ZRA is also calling on those who are not sure if their vehicles were properly cleared to go to any ZRA office and have their details checked in the ZRA system.

ZRA introduced a motor vehicle amnesty from 1st- 30th  November because Government has been losing substantial amounts of revenue in unpaid taxes and duties due to the increasing number of motor vehicles which have been imported into the country without genuine customs documents.

The amnesty gives relief on penalties and interest to all individuals and firms whose vehicles have no genuine customs documents and have since been registered with the Road Transport and Safety Agency.

The amnesty is operating on the condition that the affected individuals and firms furnish ZRA with all the necessary details about such transactions and pay all the principle taxes within the stipulated period.

Upon expiration of the notice period, the authority will proceed to conduct intensified enforcement operations aimed at seizing, including forfeiture of such vehicles and prosecuting all such

individuals and companies.