MASERU – With the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns fast approaching, the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) has urged all clients to file their tax returns and pay taxes before the cutoff date.

Every year from April 1 – June 30 is the Income Tax Filing season but this year, that season was extended to September 30 as a Tax Relief Measure to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 induced lockdown. The extended period was meant to give clients adequate time, given the prevailing situation, to prepare their books and to file on time.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, clients are further encouraged to make use of online platforms such as Interim E-filing accessible on the LRA website or to use a dedicated email address. 

The Payment Referencing Portal can also be used to generate a reference that will allocate clients payment to the correct tax type and correct pay period. “We have to file Income Tax Returns, so we are trying to work together with our people to follow the right filing procedures and pay the tax due before the deadline, still taking into consideration the COVID-19 and lockdown regulations in the country. 

“That is why we also decided to take this opportunity to create awareness about available online platforms to ease filing and payment as well as appeal to clients to meet their tax obligations,” said the LRA acting Commissioner General ’Mathabo Mokoko during the filing season campaign update on Wednesday.

She said clients, who for various reasons, were not able to meet their tax obligations in the past, are urged to make use of the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP), an initiative established solely to allow clients to regularise their tax affairs.

VDP is the window of opportunity for clients to regularise their tax affairs as well as disclose honestly and truthfully all sources of income that were not previously divulged.