03 Apr 2024

Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has achieved a tax revenue collection of P59.566 billion for the financial year 2023/2024, surpassing the target of P59.199 billion by P367 million, which is 0.62 per cent.

Addressing a press conference Tuesday, BURS Commissioner General, Ms Jeanette Makgolo commended BURS staff members for doing all in their power to achieve the target, saying the collection marked the highest figure that BURS had ever attained since its establishment.

As at March 31, Ms Makgolo said the preliminary accounts indicated that the tax revenue collected was P59.566 billion.

“Our bold and deliberate Rapid Response Revenue Mobilisation Strategy has born fruits,” she said.

This 2023/2024 achievement, she said, was testament to what could be accomplished through collaboration, innovation and perseverance.

“This collection is not a windfall, but the results of deliberate efforts and hard work of visionary men and women of BURS and our key stakeholders,” she said.

She encouraged her team to remain steadfast in its commitment to excellence and continue working towards the common goal of building a prosperous future for all.

She also expressed appreciation to all those who paid tax on time during the financial year 2023/2024, saying their diligence in meeting their tax obligations had been instrumental in BURS’ success.

As BURS journey towards attainment of the 2024/2025 revenue target of P70.576 billion, Ms Makgolo encouraged all tax payers to continue improving their compliance efforts, ‘as together, we contribute to the growth and development of our beloved country’.

This, she said, would be an increase of P11.377 billion, which is 19.22 per cent as compared to the 2023/2024 revised budget of P59.199 billion.

“We have accepted the 2024/2025 financial year target, hefty as it sounds.

At BURS we are the oath-keepers, we are committed and convicted to our duty call, and we shall do all in our power to ensure that your will shall faithfully be done,” she added.

To further enhance compliance, Ms Makgolo said BURS intended to implement several initiatives.

She disclosed that such  included; introduction of track and trace technology for excisable goods, transit monitoring system to prevent diversion and local dumping of transit-declared goods, adoption of electronic Value Added Tax billing system and taxpayer education to be conducted across the country to foster greater awareness and understanding of tax obligations. ENDS