ZRA gives tips on VAT refund
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
ONLY businesses registered for value Added Tax (VAT) are eligible to claim refund through a process which has been put in place.
This can be through the return, the input VAT incurred in the course of their business, and remitting to Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
This is according to the ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda.
Mr Sikalinda explained that VAT was incurred by the final person in the chain of supply who is not registered for it or in a case of a VAT registered supplier, at a point when the supplier became a final consumer.
“Therefore, registered suppliers generally do not incur VAT except where they are a final consumer for a particular good or service or where they incur VAT on a good or service that is specifically excluded from input tax deduction,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda stated that there were three major facets of tax compliance, namely, filing of returns on time, and paying on time (especially before the due dates).
“If you adhere to these simple facets, compliance is then a straightforward process.
“The common challenges include but are not limited to; businesses not registered for VAT because they are below the statutory threshold or because they are dealing in exempt supplies tend to think they should not be charged VAT because they cannot claim it,” he said.
