ZRA extends amnesty to clearing agents

BUUMBA CHIMBULU

ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda, called on all clearing agents with such vehicles on their declarant accounts to pay duties and taxes without penalties and interest.

Mr Sikalinda said this followed the recent interception by ZRA of numerous motor vehicles that were fraudulently imported into Zambia through various schemes.

He explained that such schemes included transit frauds and tax exemptions that their declarants did not qualify for which include Value Added Tax deferment.

Mr Sikalinda said ZRA had introduced a mini tax amnesty with offer to pay duties and taxes without penalties and interest on un-cleared motor vehicles valid up May 26, this year.

“Please take advantage of this opportunity and report to the nearest Customs station to clear your accounts.

“Further note that the ZRA will conduct audits after this exercise and the declarant’s accounts that will be found with transactions of motor vehicles that were irregularly imported will be liable to penalties and prosecution,” he said.

Mr Sikalinda indicated that preliminary audit reports had revealed that some of the clearing companies could be affected, hence the opportunity for them to clean up by engaging their clients to ensure they correct the dubious imports.

Mr Sikalinda said the audit would have been completed hence all the people and organizations that will still be found on the wrong side of the law will have themselves to blame.

ZRA, he said, would not only seize their vehicles but would have them forfeited to the state and owners prosecuted in the courts of law.

“It is always important to do the right thing right from the start and avoid being inconvenienced. Many times the ZRA has given an opportunity for people to do the correct things. Others step up to correct the situations and others stay back.

Last week, Inspector General of police, Kakoma Kanganja, urged those without proper motor vehicle clearance documentation to take advantage of the grace period announced by ZRA to acquire proper documentation before the end of the grace period.