08 May 2020

Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) has disbursed over P200 million towards COVID-19 Botswana government wage subsidy scheme by the end of April 2020.

Giving an update on the COVID-19 wage subsidy, BURS’ Commissioner of Domestic Tax, Mr Tutu Bakwena stated that all April payments had been settled except for those companies who had submitted incorrect banking details.

Mr Bakwena pleaded with companies to complete the COVID-19 Wages Subsidy Application form available on the BURS website and meet the May 15 deadline for consideration of end of May subsidy.

He explained that the subsidy applied even if the employer owed BURS any taxes and thus encouraged businesses to continue meeting their tax obligations.

The purpose of the subsidy, he said, was to provide assistance to employees of eligible sectors hence,  government could not dictate to employers how much they must pay employees but encouraged employers to do their best to meet employees’ wages and salaries.

Mr Bakwena indicated that BURS would also come to the relief of those companies that had been forfeiting their tax payment as the scheme intents to cushion company employees from COVID-19 impacts.

Furthermore, Mr Bakwena pleaded with companies to refrain from looting the subsidy scheme through holding on to claims and not paying their employees. 

He said the Ministry of Finance and economic Development would soon publicise a list of companies that benefitted from the wage subsidy ends