Sello Motseta
25th June 2022
The Botswana Unified Revenue Service(BURS) has revealed that since the introduction of ban on certain fruits and vegetables in December 2021, it has been experiencing smuggling at an alarming rate.
“Those who are caught smuggling vegetables will be charged according to the provisions of the Customs Act, which provides that we impose …a fine not exceeding P1million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or treble, or treble the value of the goods in respect of the offence, whichever is greater,” said Jeanette Makgolo, Commissioner General for BURS.
She said, “I am aware that the charges have been minimal and to contain and deter smuggling BURS has effected strong measures.”
According to officials those caught smuggling vegetables will be charged not less than P50,000.00 for all first offenders smuggling vegetables valued at less than P2 5000.00 and the container will be forfeited to the Revenue Service. Criminal proceedings will be instigated repeat offenders.
Those who smuggle vegetables valued over P2 500.00 will be fined not less than P450 000.00 and for the repeated offence criminal proceedings will be instigated against them.
“An offender who offends the second time will be fined P850,000.00 and the smuggled vegetables and the container will be forfeited to the revenue service,” said Mokgolo.
BURS has also introduced Scanner operations, canine units and Flexible Anti-Smuggling Teams(FAST) to protect the Botswana border against illicit and prohibited products from entering the country.
With 3 days left until the Tax Amnesty ends, a total of 13,965 taxpayers(being 61% of the taxpayers in arrears) had applied for Tax Amnesty out of which 8,699(being 38%) of 22,839 taxpayers in arrears were approved.
Total Principal Tax paid for the period stood at P723 million comprising of Income Tax of P244million and Value Added Tax of P479 million.
“This depicts 29% recovery in the outstanding principal tax prior to the commencement of the scheme,” said Mokgolo.
P772 million penalties and interests have been waived thus far comprising of P459 million Income Tax and P313 million of Value Added Tax. This depicts that 18% was written of the outstanding penalties and interest prior to the commencement of the scheme.
According to BURS officials as at the end of May 2022 the Revenue Service collection for financial year 2022/2023 stood at P8.55billion, surpassing a target of P7.74billion for the period by P814 million or 10.52%. In comparism to the corresponding period of the previous year 2021/22, the current overall revenue collection represented an increase of P2.26 billion or 35.84%.
