Incidences of tax avoidance worries govt

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba says Government is concerned with the emerging incidences of avoidance of tax obligations by some shop operators/traders.

Mr. Yamba says of specific concern over the last few months is the retail sector, whereby several traders have entrenched the habit of selling goods without issuing cash-register receipts to buyers.

Mr. Yamba says the Government does not want to continue losing the revenue which is needed to fulfill the promises made by leaders during the Presidential by-election campaign trail, adding that, to amalgamate the resource-base for financing employment creation, poverty reduction and social sector programmes, it is a duty of every person in a business which meets the relevant threshold, to issue official sale receipts and keep proper sales records.

He has stated that the action to request for receipts from shop owners/traders when purchases are made by customers is a civic duty and a very important manifestation of patriotism.

Mr. Yamba has appealed to the general public to be vigilant and join in guarding public resources by ensuring that as much as possible, receipts generated from cash registers are obtained from shop operators/traders so that the correct tax revenue is collected for the benefit of society.

This is according to a statement issued to QFM News by the Ministry of Finance Public Relations officer Chileshe Kandeta.