Maravi

Online tax payments will mitigate opportunities for corruption - ZRA
By Kabanda Chulu
Sat 21 Dec. 2013, 14:00 CAT

ZAMBIA Revenue Authority says implementation of online tax payment systems will minimise physical interaction and mitigate opportunities for corruption among stakeholders in the clearance process.

ZRA has started implementing robust web-based systems called AsycudaWorld that allow customs administration and traders to handle transactions through the Internet.

So far, ZRA has launched the facility at KK International Airport, Lusaka Port Office, Chirundu and Kariba and will next week launch the Livingstone site, while the rest of the customs offices will implement the system in the first quarter of 2014.

According to a statement issued by ZRA, the system will enable stakeholders to conduct business with customs services at anytime.

"The AsycudaWorld system enables paperless e-commerce through electronic declaration and submission of supporting documents to customs services such as invoices, parking list, certificates of origin, among other requirements," it stated.

"The system will enable anyone to search applicable tariff rates and regulations for goods of interest. It will also enable taxpayers to track status of the customs clearance process for their goods, including taxes assessed through their emails or sms notices."

It stated that creation of central processing centres (CPC) would enable ZRA to streamline the clearance process and provide the service in an efficient way.

"The CPCs will initially be set up at Lusaka, Kabwe and Ndola and all customs declarations submitted by imports/exporters electronically from different locations at anytime will be processed at the three CPCs which will equally operate for extended hours even after borders have closed," it stated. "The CPCs will also enable ZRA to provide a uniform service to the public, standardisation in the application of the law and procedures regardless of which borders one uses."

It stated that AsycudaWorld was earmarked to evolve into an electronic single window for Zambia by the end of 2014.

"A single window is a trade facilitation service that allows parties involved in trade to lodge standardised information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements," stated ZRA.

Labels: INTERNET, TAXATION, ZRA

posted by MrK @ 5:08 PM