The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is encouraging 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. 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 30 June 2018.
Application for Voluntary Disclosure
Any person can come to ZIMRA and make a voluntary disclosure. A person 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 disclosure should cover returns for period prior to 30 June 2018.
- Any person who failed among others to register for tax purposes, submit returns on time, make payments on time, maintain records and information, fiscalise can make voluntary disclosure.
- 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 transactions for tax purposes and require an opinion from ZIMRA.
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- The voluntary disclosure benefits shall be withdrawn where the client fails to honour payment arrangements agreed on with ZIMRA, without seeking for alternative agreement payment arrangements.
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.
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.
- Access to tax clearances is opened for compliant taxpayers.
NB: The interest on outstanding debts remains due and payable.
For how long is the voluntary disclosure programme available to taxpayers?
Applications for voluntary disclosure shall be made from 1 July 2018 to 31 December 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. ZI |
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