shloboe boe
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has clarified the regulations that demand valid tax certificate from individuals under specified professional bodies before renewal or registration of their practising certificates.
The new position was announced last month under Public Notice 92 of 2024.
Responding to an inquiry from Chronicle, Zimra communications manager, Mr Francis Chimanda, said the move was meant to bring into the tax net, professionals who are not in the Zimra system and also increase compliance of those who are already on the Zimra database.
“This has been in place for those who were compliant. Zimra, however, is now enforcing the measures for the non-compliant professionals and effective date is January 1, 2025,” said Mr Chimanda.
He emphasised that registration for a valid tax certificate was for free.
In a Public Notice 92 of 2024 issued last month and in accordance with the amendment to Section 80A of the Income Tax Act (Chapter 23:06), Zimra listed the nine affected professional bodies as Architects, Engineers and Technicians, Land Surveyors, Legal Practitioners, Auditors and Accountants, Health Practitioners, Veterinary Surgeons, Real Estate Agents and Quantity Surveyors.
“All individuals seeking certification, registration, or licensing with their respective professional bodies must present a valid tax clearance certificate at the time of application or renewal,” said the tax authority.
“The tax clearance certificate must be valid no earlier than 30 days prior to its submission. Zimra encourages all professionals in these fields to ensure compliance with this new requirement to avoid any disruptions in their practice,” reads the notice.
The tax authority further stated that all new registrants should register through the Zimra Service Portal.
When sampled, the given application portal showed that one needs to sign in or sign up first before being taken to the main page, upon which they are asked whether they want to register as individuals or as an organisation.
After clicking on the correct box, a new page opens with further requests such as one’s taxpayer information number (TIN), employment period and type of employment, among other requests.
There is no payment required for one to get a tax clearance certificate. In compliance with the directive, the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) on Tuesday advised all health institutions and organisations to submit a list of their Zimra tax-cleared personnel ahead of registration or renewal, warning that no NCZ practicing certificate shall be issued without the valid tax clearance.
“In line with the requirements of Public Notice 92 of 2024, issued on the 5th of December 2024 by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe wishes to advise all nurses to produce a valid tax clearance as part of the registration and renewal requirements.
“All health institutions and organisations are hereby required to submit a list of their Zimra tax-cleared personnel to the NCZ as a prerequisite for renewal. Please note that all nurses residing outside Zimbabwe are exempt from this requirement,” said NCZ in the statement.
