05 Jul 2023

The Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) aims to collect P60. 494 billion in tax revenue this financial year 2023/24 to develop the country.

Speaking during the launch of the 2023 filing season in Gaborone on Monday, the BURS Commissioner General, Ms Jeanette Makgolo urged all taxpayers to ensure that the targeted revenue was collected as it was needed for the development of the country.

Ms Makgolo said tax filing statistics were some of the key indicators used globally to measure the efficiency of the revenue authorities and the compliance levels of the various tax jurisdictions.

“On that basis, it is important to uphold our country’s filing and paying taxes indices, which are pivotal in attracting meaningful investment to grow our economy,” she said.

Ms Makgolo said during the financial year 2022/23, BURS collected tax revenue amounting to P49. 738 billion, surpassing the set target of P47. 572 billion by P2. 166 billion or 4.55 per cent.

“This is so despite the government having increased our target by P1. 139 billion two months before the end of the financial year, from the initial P46. 433 billion to P47. 572 billion,” she said and also extended gratitude to those who paid their tax on time.

Furthermore, she stated that ‘July 1, marks the beginning of a new tax year, and opens the filing season that runs from the July 1 to September 30.’

She therefore called on all individual taxpayers to submit their returns for the tax year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, declaring their tax obligations and or affairs for the year which ended on June 30, 2023.

The BURS Commissioner General noted that through the exercise, both the taxpayer and BURS could ascertain the true amount of tax remitted to the Revenue Service by the taxpayer, and thus contributing their fair share to national development.

Ms Makgolo reiterated the importance of filing tax returns and paying tax on time and in compliance with relevant statutes.

BURS, she said, had over the years been working hard in its efforts to improve and simplify the process of submitting tax returns.

“Since 2015, we introduced electronic filing in a bid to reduce queues for submission of manual returns at our offices” she said further noting that the development ensured wider outreach, inclusivity and coverage, thereby reducing the burden on taxpayers to comply with their tax obligations.

Ms Makgolo pointed out that filing tax returns was by no means any form of tool to frustrate anyone, but rather important for maintaining high levels of voluntary compliance and citizen’s confidence in the overall tax system.

Meanwhile as a recap on the filing requirements, Ms Makgalo said all individuals with a gross income of more than P480 000 per annum were required to file a tax return.

She said individuals whose gross income was less than P480 000 per annum were not required to file their tax returns if their total income arose solely from employment, or from a single employer or if deducted by the employer as Pay As You Earn.

She nevertheless noted that individuals with multiple sources of income, including employment income were required to file returns even if their total gross income was less than P480 000 per annum for demonstration so that they be relieved. ends