Zimra to name, shame tax evaders

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authourity (Zimra) is set to name and shame tax offendors if Parliament adopts the latest treasury proposals. The new Finance Bill, which is set for debate when Parliament resumes sitting next week, will see the Revenue Authority Act amended to allow the tax collector to publish the names and addresses of tax offenders.

The Finance Bill, which amends the Finance Act; the Income Tax Act; Value Added Tax Act and other Acts contains a raft of measures that will give effect to Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa's recent mid-term budget review.

"Section 34A ("Preservation of Secrecy") (1) of the Revenue Authority Act Chapter 23: is amended by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (7) - "(8) Despite anything in this section, the Commissioner-General may, in relation to a taxpayer or other person who is convicted of a tax offence - ('the offender") in respect of which all appeal or review proceedings relating to the offences have, within the period allowed, been completed or not instituted (or, having been instituted. have been abandoned), publish for general information the following particulars - the name and at area of residence of an offender; and any particulars of the offence that the Commissioner general thinks fit; and the particulars of the fine or sentence imposed on the offender; any other particulars specified in the first schedule," reads part of the Finance Bill.

The Bill says a "tax offence" covers smuggling or any other offence against any of the eight listed legislation. The laws covered are the Betting and Totalisator Control Act; Capital Gains Tax Act; Customs and Excise Act; Income Tax Act; Income Tax (Transitional Period Provisions) Act; Stamp Duties Act; Tax Reserve Certificates Act and Value Added Tax Act.

Experts say the taxman's shaming move may curb tax avoidance.