CTPD urges govt to strengthen tax bills
By Adrian Mwanza
THE Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has urged government to strengthen taxpayer rights, accountability and certainty in the proposed Tax Administration Bill.
CTPD head of advocacy and campaigns Natalie Kaunda, warned that codifying rights without enforceable safeguards could undermine public trust in the tax system.
In a detailed submission to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning on January 19, Kaunda welcomed the introduction of the Bill, describing it as a critical step toward simplifying and harmonising tax administration across different tax types.
She said the reforms presented an opportunity to align Zambia’s tax administration framework with international best practices on fairness, transparency, and administrative justice.
“CTPD strongly supported the proposal to codify the Taxpayer Service Charter into law, arguing that this would elevate taxpayer rights from policy guidelines to legally enforceable protections,” Kaunda said in a statement seen by the Mast.
However, CTPD recommended key additions, including a statutory right to private binding rulings to enhance certainty for investors and businesses, and enforceable remedies where the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) fails to meet its legal obligations, such as delays in refunds or objections.
