ZRA launches tax compliance cost survey
By Ludia Ngwadzai
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has begun a nationwide survey to establish the costs, challenges and practical experiences taxpayers face in meeting their tax obligations.
In a statement seen by The Mast, ZRA corporate communications manager Oliver Nzala said the Cost of Tax Compliance Survey, running from September 7 to October 31, was intended to provide ZRA with evidence on how much time, money and administrative effort businesses and individuals spent on processes such as tax registration, record keeping, filing returns, making payments and using electronic tax systems.
Nzala said the exercise was important in helping the authority understand taxpayers’ experiences and improve service delivery.
“The findings will provide critical evidence to help the Authority identify areas where tax processes can be simplified, unnecessary compliance burdens reduced and taxpayer services improved,” Nzala said.
He said the survey formed part of ZRA’s broader efforts to build a simpler, more efficient, responsive and taxpayer-centred tax administration system.
Nzala said the exercise was not a tax audit, investigation or enforcement exercise, and urged selected taxpayers to provide accurate and honest information about the challenges they faced when complying with their tax obligations.
He said particular attention would be paid to the compliance burden faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which often had limited financial and administrative capacity to navigate complex tax processes.
“The survey findings will inform reforms in areas including digital tax services, taxpayer education, filing and payment procedures, administrative processes, service delivery and compliance support,” Nzala said.
He warned members of the public to remain vigilant and verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent the ZRA during the exercise.
Nzala stressed that no taxpayer should make any payment to an officer for participating in the survey.
He said feedback from taxpayers would play an important role in developing a tax administration system that is easier to understand, easier to use and more responsive to the needs of businesses and citizens.
Nzala said the authority remained committed to balancing effective domestic revenue mobilisation with fairness, transparency, convenience and reduced compliance costs.
