17th January 2023
Own Correspondent
The Chairperson of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service(BURS) Dr Lesedi Says Senatla maintains that there is a limit to the amount of information that the tax service is at liberty to share.
BURS says it is committed to being open and transparent within the provisions of the statutes governing its activities. BURS by nature of its business, is a custodian of taxpayer information which should be handled with utmost confidentiality stressed officials.
“Legislation that governs the Revenue Service clearly prohibits the disclosure of taxpayer information to unauthorized persons,” said Dr Lesedi Says Senatla, Chairperson of Botswana Unified Revenue Service(BURS).
He said, “It is regrettable that some in the media believe it is a good idea to write about confidential information on companies and individuals, which information is obtained unprocedurally and clearly unethically.”
According to officials, BURS is a semi-autonomous state-owned enterprise that falls under the Ministry of Finance, entrusted with the responsibility of tax and customs administration.
Its mandate involves tax assessments and revenue collection functions on behalf of the Botswana Government, management of borders, facilitation of trade and playing an advisory role on matters of administration and collection of tax revenues.
BURS is duty-bound to administer several Acts, namely Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, Customs Duty Act 2, Excise Duty Act, Capital Transfer Tax Act and Transfer Duty Act.
Moreover, as may be decided by the Minister responsible for Finance, the Revenue Service has been delegated, under different statutes, to collect levies and fees at border posts and inland offices on agency basis on behalf of other agencies of the Government.”
These levies include collection of Alcohol and Tobacco levies, Flour Levy, Third party insurance, Road transport and Road safety fees.
“The Government’s expenditure programme, infrastructure provision and social programmes are dependent on the revenues we raise. MmaBoipelego funding, road building projects, water provision, paying teachers and nurses, construction of hospitals and so forth, look to BURS to make the money available,” said Senatla.
According to officials, BURS has been assigned the responsibility to collect the tax revenue and other revenues of P46.433 billion for the 2022/23 fiscal year. Botswana, on average, imports to the value of P70 billion and exports of P60 billion are processed annually.
The BURS Board of Directors stressed it is committed to transforming Revenue Service into envisioned the Centre of Excellence in Revenue collection, trade facilitation and border management.
This is evidenced by its continued support to Management’s endeavors through sanctioning initiatives and projects that are geared towards improving efficiency and effectiveness of the Revenue service.
BURS has therefore adopted a strategy that runs from 2019 to 2024, to realize this objective.
It has also refreshed it to align it with the Government’s transformation strategies as well as to respond to the changed economic circumstances brought about by Covid-19 and other prevailing economic conditions to ensure that the set goals remain achievable.
Among BUR’s strategic priorities are improving tax compliance, transforming BURS culture, continuous stakeholder engagement – and so when you are told that we do not consult our stakeholders, be skeptical –, minimizing and reducing tax leakages (very important that one), leveraging on ICT for service delivery, conducting organizational restructuring and enhancing leadership capability.
“Due to the sensitivity of its work, BURS requires responsible journalism that promotes transparency and honesty within the confines of the law,” said Jeanette Makgolo, Commissioner General for the Botswana Unified Revenue Service(BURS).
She said, “We are a law abiding organization, which believes in governance processes. We are here today to have a chat as to how best we can work together within the prescribed laws, to deliver on our respective mandates. Let’s engage on issues of revealing tax evasion, issues of fighting corruption and smuggling. Let’s journey together for the transformation of BURS for the better lives of Botswana.”
