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Multi Currency is no Currency
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Import duty on capital equipment and goods
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Boarder queues vs collection of taxes
By: Rugare on 08-Jun-09

Recent Questions

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is it moral and legal for Zimra (Gweru) to charge tax on teachers' incentives

12 July 2009

Section 8 of the Income Tax Act [Chapter 23:06] provides for the taxation of all amounts which constitute gross income as defined. This includes amounts received or accrued in respect of services rendered and amounts equal to the value of an advantage or benefit in respect of employment service. Section 73 of the same Act as read with paragraph 3 of the 13th Schedule compels all employers to withhold employees tax (PAYE) from remuneration. It is, therefore, legal for the teachers’ incentives ...

Does the disabled concession apply to adults only?I have a disabled daughter who need the use of a car every day and I am the primary carer,can I not use the disabled people concession to import a car?

11 July 2009

The current legislation does not carry an age limit. The suspension is however applied on a case by case basis upon approval by the Commissioner General. You are advised to make a written application to the Commissioner General detailing the nature of disability and the type of car you would like to import. There are basic conditions to be fulfilled and these include evidence of disability. This has to be certified by a medical practitioner. For the physically handicapped person who has to d...

I am one of the millions of working in the Diaspora who want to come home, but as it stands there is litterally no program or incentives for this group of peolpe. In essence i would pay a whoping amount of tax import tax & duty on all most raw materails to get my business up and running, there is no tax relief/break or financial assistance program (even donor funded) for new/emerging businesses.Access to working capital is alo very constrained. I think you need to sit down and come up with a workable 'Diaspora Incentive Program' and come up with very attractive taxes & rebates to actively encourage people back & setup business. Its more sustainable and better than asking donors for funds in the long run these companies pay VAt, employ people, increase production & investment in the economy. we cant just walk back into such a harsh economic environment where even the big companies find it hard to survive

09 July 2009

Your concern regarding incentives for investors and returning residents is noted and appreciated. A number of initiatives are underway to create an environment conducive to investment by local, regional and international investors. This includes a review of the customs and tax policies including a review of the rates of duty and tax. Some of these policies will be contained in the Mid-Term Fiscal Review. Rates of duty have already been reviewed downwards. The country has a number of fiscal in...

I have been staying out of Zimbabwe legally for more than 2 years (under study permit) when I went for my post graduate studies. I am planning of coming back for good to Zimbabwe. I want to know, there used to be a law which allowed a person in my category to import one car duty free and household property. Is this still available? How many cars can one import under this privellege? and Since I had left together with my wife, can my wife also be allowed that duty free?

08 July 2009

The legislation that provides for the immigrant’s rebate which covers returning residents is still in place. The duty free concessions are provided for in the Customs Regulations. All household and personal effects including one motor vehicle can be imported duty free on your return provided all set conditions are met. Your spouse is also entitled to the rebate. For further details on this concession you may log onto the ZIMRA website www.zimra.co.zw or refer to Section 105 of the Customs and Ex...

Why is ZIMRA charging 85% import duty for used cars yet we don't manufacture any cars hence no local industry to protect.

30 June 2009

It is mandatory for ZIMRA to charge the rates of duty that are contained in the regulations. These rates were set by policy makers based on the circumstances that were prevailing in the country. However, since we moved to the multiple currencies, a major review was done and the current rates are actually reduced rates. As a country we have our own vehicle assembling industry which needs to be supported and to be protected. Policy decisions will therefore continue to strike a balance between t...

What is the Treasury doing with the Chiadzwa Diamond Fields,in its efforts to capacitate the Zimbabwean economy.

26 June 2009

For detailed information regarding the Government’s position on mining of diamonds in the country especially with regards to those in Chiadzwa, please do not hesitate to contact the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development....

I have realised that we still have a lot of unclreared vehicles at the Beitbridge Border post, likely due to the fact the the duties charged there are huge and individuals are failing to pay lumpsum amounts of duty at go. The issue is people were able to buy those vehicles because they could pay in instalments, but now at our own country people do not have that facility to pay that money in instalments, hence so many vehicles are parked at the borders. The government should thus be lossing out on getting the forex that they are suppossed to be receiving. Is it not possible for the ministry to introduce a facility whereby people can pay in instalments, which i think can also help the government in getting cashinflows

25 June 2009

I agree that the border post had become congested due to the number of un-cleared vehicles held by ZIMRA. Your suggestion regarding allowing importers to pay in instalments will be considered. The decision will need to cater for situations where the importer may still fail to meet the terms relating to the instalments which will impact on the revenue collections. Besides this point, ZIMRA has been conducting a number of rummage sales to dispose of goods including vehicles which were due for sale...

Regarding govt support for grain purchase (which I think is progressive), what mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the money is not abused, considering the real temptation to divert some of the money since the GMB is currently in the red? Besides protecting the farmers as stated in the release, what other benefits will accrue to govt and the nation through the assistance? Will the GMB be able to settle its historical debts without resorting to the financial assistance being offered?

23 June 2009

My Ministry, working with the Ministry of Agriculture, will monitor the draw down on the resources availed to GMB to ensure that these resources are not abused. In my Ministry I have the Implementation and Control of Expenditure Unit (ICEU), which follows up on resources disbursed by Government to ensure that they are efficiently and effectively utilised....

Greetings to you, Hon. Minister. I should say I am very impressed by the hard work you are doing in your efforts to turn around the fortunes of this beautiful country. I am also impressed by the fact that you chose to launch and have run, this website. I would like to suggest, though, that this excellent idea runs the risk of losing what it seeks to gain. How? Looking at the photo gallery, for instance, I was somewhat disappointed because there is an ovebearing presence of you, Hon., as the person, rather the leader of a govt arm. There is real danger that a lot of people will see it that way and lose interest in the website. Just recently, there was a lot of barking about the newsletter launched from the PM's office. While I think the talk over the newsletter was misguided and inspired by political spins, I propose that you rectify this attitude in the website, lest the real slant is hijacked by unnecessary smearing.

23 June 2009

As you might be aware, the website is still under development and for a start, the developers needed some content with which to test run. However, we do take into consideration your concerns and going forward, the anomalies you have indicated will be rectified....

Hi Mr Minister, what is being done to process trucks with imports from all boarders, a lot of time and money is wasted when trucks are stuck there for weeks. Especially in Beitbridge, with efficient point of entry, Zim would be able to capitilise on this and also safe parking along Beitbridge highway, where drivers can bath, spend their money therefore bringing in more currency and tax that is needed. I still do not believe my eyes that one travels between Beitbridge to Bulawayo without a dicent stop over. Thanks and Regards

22 June 2009

Thank you for your comments. A number of initiatives are under way to improve the process of clearing trucks and these include the upgrading of the infrastructure, the road network and the proposed one stop border post concept where the clearances for the two countries are done at the same time. In addition to the above, commercial goods can be pre-cleared 14 days ahead of their importation into Zimbabwe. This measure, if taken up by importers, transporters and clearing agents, will go a lon...

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QUE: is it moral and legal for Zimra (Gweru) to charge tax on teachers' incentives

TENDAI: Section 8 of the Income Tax Act [Chapter 23:06] provides for the taxati...

QUE: Does the disabled concession apply to adults only?I have a disabled daughter who need the use of a car every day and I am the primary carer,can I not use the disabled people concession to import a car?

TENDAI: The current legislation does not carry an age limit. The suspension is ...