Lack of capacity widens tax gap � BURS

Morris
Morris

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) recorded a 17.1 percent growth in tax collections to P37 billion in the 2014/15 financial year, but said there is still a tax gap due to a litany of constraints it still faces.

In the 2015 annual report released recently, commissioner general Ken Morris said inadequate capacity to undertake more enforcement activities to cover all areas of the country is one of the constraints that the agency faces.

Morris cited constraints such as public ignorance of the importance of tax which translated into low compliance levels, as well as the lack of an enterprise risk management function for increased efficiency in collection.

Editor's Comment
Botswana at a critical juncture

While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up