Rungano Dzikira
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says it is upgrading the e-services system that allows remote application for the tax clearance certificates, in line with Government’s call to avoid physical corporate services, a move intended to reduce covid-19 transmissions.
Zimra is usually overwhelmed by firms jostling for tax clearances at the beginning of each year. However, Covid 19 regulations have worsened the need for online tax clearance submissions.
In a statement the tax collector said the situation has been compounded by the congestion due to very high user traffic applying at the same time following the expiry of the previously extended tax clearance submission deadline.
“The system is operational and our ICT team is attending to system congestion challenges to improve its performance.
“In addition to addressing the technical challenges, we are taking steps to clear the client service backlog for tax clearance certificates, outstanding tax returns, and outstanding tax compliance issues amongst other services,” read part of the statement.
Zimra said numerous corrective steps were being taken to return the e-services platform to normalcy.
“ZIMRA technical team is directly engaging taxpayers who have reported their challenges and is assisting them to access their tax clearance certificates
“We are working with the vendor to enhance the system capacity so that it is able to handle multiple requests at the same time,” further read the statement.
Currently, Zimra said the majority of the Taxpayers were able to log on and submit their requests.
However, due to non-compliance with some clients, Zimra said the system was not issuing them with Tax Clearance Certificates.
“Clients are advised to ensure that they are compliant in all respects before submitting their applications. In the interim, compliant taxpayers who fail to get their certificates through the system are advised to communicate with their assigned liaison officers by e-mail so that they are assisted manually to download their tax clearances.”
