ZIMRA, the tax authority in Zimbabwe, is walking back its plan for monthly tax certificates after businesses complained. The original rule would have made those tax clearance documents, called ITF263 forms, expire every single month for everyone. Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Misheck Govha wrote a letter to the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries about it. They are now talking about a slower, staged rollout instead.
The new idea is not one size fits all. Big companies might get a certificate good for half a year. Smaller businesses and people bidding for government tenders would get one lasting three months. This is a shift from saying every taxpayer needed a new form each month. They are calling it a transitional framework. The tax agency says it wants to be practical and efficient. They mentioned system stabilisation and more talks with everyone involved.
Business groups think this is still a pain, even with the longer periods. They argue that needing a new form every few months messes with operations and adds cost. It causes problems for things like applying for tenders or getting bank services. ZIMRA also clarified one hard rule. Anyone filing a NIL return, meaning they owe no tax, still has to get special permission from the taxman for a clearance certificate. The agency says the overall goal of the policy is not changing, despite this adjustment. They want more compliance and revenue collection. Industry reps plan to keep pushing back, saying the admin burden is too much.
The new idea is not one size fits all. Big companies might get a certificate good for half a year. Smaller businesses and people bidding for government tenders would get one lasting three months. This is a shift from saying every taxpayer needed a new form each month. They are calling it a transitional framework. The tax agency says it wants to be practical and efficient. They mentioned system stabilisation and more talks with everyone involved.
Business groups think this is still a pain, even with the longer periods. They argue that needing a new form every few months messes with operations and adds cost. It causes problems for things like applying for tenders or getting bank services. ZIMRA also clarified one hard rule. Anyone filing a NIL return, meaning they owe no tax, still has to get special permission from the taxman for a clearance certificate. The agency says the overall goal of the policy is not changing, despite this adjustment. They want more compliance and revenue collection. Industry reps plan to keep pushing back, saying the admin burden is too much.
