BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) officials and traffic police went on the rampage last week, impounding hundreds of vehicles in the city for not paying tax.Several residents who had their vehicles impounded said they were being asked to pay amounts ranging from US$200 to US$500 to have their cars released. They impounded all three of my commuter omnibus vehicles and right now I dont know what to do because they are demanding exorbitant amounts for the release of the vehicles, said Fatima Tshuma, a commuter omnibus operator from Nkulumane High density suburb.
Another resident Mike Moyo said: They should have warned us, not just impound our vehicles like that. After all figures there are demanding is too much, where I will get such money?
A ZIMRA official who spoke to The Zimbabwean said they had embarked on this operation after realizing that most vehicles owners were not paying tax. People are not paying tax and insurance for their vehicles and we have no option but to do this, said the ZIMRA official.
Meanwhile, several driving schools and hair salon operators in the city have called upon ZIMRA to reduce the presumptive taxing system used on informal traders, saying the amount is exorbitant. Each driving school or hair salon owner is required to pay presumptive tax amounting to US$1500 every quarter of the year.
Post published in: Economy