BURS project higher revenue collection in 2023/24
Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) is projecting to make higher tax collection in the next financial 2023/24, Board Chairperson Dr. Lesedi Senatla has said.
BURS has been assigned the responsibility to collect the tax revenue and other revenues of P46.433 billion for the 2022/23 fiscal year. Dr. Senatla revealed this week that Government’s revenues have not been consistently keeping up with expenditure demands, otherwise called budget deficits and especially at the height of COVID-19 pandemic, and BURS is called to action even more in the circumstances.
He highlighted that in Botswana, on average, imports to the value of P70 billion and exports of P60 billion are processed annually. This, he said is significant work that is done by BURS, to facilitate timely importation of raw materials and machinery necessary to stimulate growth of industries in the economy and this leads to employment creation and reduction of poverty levels.
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.
It is duty-bound to administer several Acts, namely: Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, Customs Duty Act, Excise Duty Act, Capital Transfer Tax Act, and Transfer Duty Act.
BURS is an organisation of strategic importance that bears a critical mandate for the development of this country, and therefore the wellbeing of Batswana, and sustainability of the growth of the economy rests on BURS.
The board chairperson stated that the Government’s expenditure programme, infrastructure provision and social programmes are dependent on the revenues raised.
Dr. Senatla told the media this week that as BURS Board of Directors, they are committed to transforming the Revenue Service into the envisioned Centre of Excellence in Revenue collection, trade facilitation and border management.
"This is evidenced by our continued support to Management’s endeavours through sanctioning initiatives and projects that are geared towards improving efficiency and effectiveness of the Revenue service," he added.
Dr. Senatla pointed out that for any entity to make meaningful progress in the execution of its mandate, it must, of necessity, have a strategy.
“And indeed, we have a strategy that runs from 2019 to 2024. We have since refreshed this 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.
“We have considered the various operational shortcomings evident in diagnostic reports, and Tax Gap studies done that included the low uptake of electronic filing,” he said, adding that among their strategic priorities are improving tax compliance, transforming BURS culture and continuous stakeholder engagement.