Zimra to garnish bank accounts of defaulting taxpayers to recover US$2 billion

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority will garnish the bank accounts of defaulting taxpayers to recover US$2 billion starting January 2017.

In emailed responses to questions from The Sunday Mail, Zimra board secretary and director for legal and corporate services Ms Florence Jambwa Garnishee orders are used only as a last resort to collect outstanding taxes when all other strategies, include negotiations, would have failed. However a Zimra official who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity said Zimra engaged taxpayers who owe us and arrange payment plans, but they have defaulted on such payment plans while others never bothered to come to make arrangements hence the decision to garnish.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Busisa Moyo urged Zimra to come up with “persuasive” revenue collection methods as garnishing accounts will do more harm than good.