ITAS: More tax relief announced

Jo-Maré Duddy – With less than a quarter of taxpayers registered on the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), the ministry of finance yesterday announced more relief incentives to lure users to the electronic platform.

The ministry will write off 95% of the interest balance and reverse all penalties for taxpayers who settle their outstanding capital amount within three months from 1 February 2021, the ministry’s chief public relations officer, Tonateni Shidhudhu, said.

The ministry will also write off 75% of the interest balance and reverse all penalties for taxpayers who settle their capital amount with a period of 12 months from 1 February.

Figures provided by Shidhudhu show 182 005 out of 767 551 taxpayers are on ITAS.

Only 36% of taxpayers in the government category has registered on ITAS, while about 22% of individuals are e-filers. Less than 28% of businesses are registered, but about 57% of trusts are.

To qualify for the relief, taxpayers must first register as electronic filers on the portal of ITAS. Then they must file all outstanding tax returns electronically on all active accounts, Shidhudhu said.