Rethabile Pitso
THE Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) has given taxpayers until 30 June 2015 to submit their income tax return reports.
LRA Commissioner Domestic Taxes Thabo Moleko
Speaking during the launch of the LRA’s “Tax Year Filing Season Campaign” in Maseru yesterday, Commissioner Domestic Taxes, Thabo Moleko, urged all eligible businesses and individuals to file their 2014/15 annual reports on time to avoid the unnecessary penalties imposed on those who refuse to comply.
The LRA’s tax dragnet includes sole proprietors, service providers, manufacturing industries, security firms, the construction, transport and property sectors, small and medium enterprises as well as employed professionals such as accountants, doctors, consultants and lawyers among others.
“Taypayers are encouraged to file their returns on time to avoid unnecessary penalties. We would also want to take this opportunity to urge taxpayers not to wait until the last day to avoid long queues as there will be no extension on the current deadline,” said Mr Moleko.
“Experience has shown that taxpayers wait until the last day and such tendencies put pressure on LRA systems and Advice Centers which in turn cause frustration among taxpayers.
“Failure to file by the deadline will result in severe penalties being charged such as subjecting the non-compliant individual to a default assessment and imposing additional tax on their business.
“The consequences would further affect their chance of getting any private and government contracts as they cannot get Tax Clearance Certificates which are a prerequisite for those jobs.”
He added that it was the responsibity of employees to ensure their employers are indeed filing the Pay As You Earn (PAYE), on their behalf, which is deducted from their salaries.
Mr Moleko went on to warn those who engage in tax evasion, saying such activities were bound to backfire at some point.
“Over the years, we have identified certain behaviours of non-compliance from taxpayers who maintain different sets of accounts to evade tax, while others under-declare for the same purpose,” he said.
“The LRA therefore encourages all taxpayers to file accurate returns and pay due taxes.”
Commissioner Customs Makalile Lepholisa said LRA still maintained its zero-tolerance stance on corruption, adding that they would bring to book all the tax evaders.
Ms Lepholisa said the illicit practice promoted corruption between officers and taxpayers with “money meant for LRA coffers going instead into officers’ pockets”.
She further noted that it also resulted in unfair competition with those who paid their taxes timeously.
