10 Mar 2020

Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has so far managed to assess at least P40 million worth of underpaid taxes and duties since it started its nationwide campaign on investigating grey import car dealerships and money laundering.

Giving an update on the ongoing nationwide campaign, BURS General Manager-Communications, Ms Mabel Bolele, said the under valuation of imported vehicles was identified by BURS as a high risk area and the ongoing operation was purely to address issues of non-compliance.

‘Issues of non-compliance has led to the organisation taking enforcement measures which included suspension of some clearing agents, warehouse operators and subsequent detention of undervalued cars. However I would like to clarify that BURS has not closed any car dealers in Mogoditshane, ’ she said.

Ms Bolele further explained that vehicles continued to be imported into the country because BURS started its operation when most of the traders had already made some arrangements to bring more consignments for their businesses.

However,  she noted some new consignments followed the same pattern of under valuation of such goods.
She said BURS was on the right track to achieving its objective of addressing issues of non-compliance since the majority of affected individuals and companies were showing up for voluntary disclosure as well as  declaring the correct value. ENDS