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Sept. 24, 2020

STAFF REPORTER

2 min read

LRA urges clients to file tax returns

LRA urges clients to file tax returns

Acting Commissioner General of LRA ’Mathabo Mokoko

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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. 

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Through this initiative, clients tax affairs shall be treated with utmost confidence and secrecy and no additional taxes shall be imposed and no prosecution.

The LRA’s Manager Client Education Letsatsi noted that while some people live far from towns and cannot easily access the internet, the authority is working closely with the three commercial banks, Standard Lesotho Bank, First National Bank, and Nedbank Lesotho to assist clients to file their returns. 

Under normal circumstances, the LRA also relies on its client outreach program to reach out to as many people as possible but the program has this year been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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