By Neo Kolane
The Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL) this week launched the e-payment and e-taxation services to give its clientele a platform to pay taxes online and e-file their tax returns.
These e-services are aimed at strengthening the use of technology and easing tax payments across the country.
The acting commissioner of operations support at RSL, Ntellane Motsamai, said that e-taxation will allow clients to e-file and amend their tax returns at the most convenient time at the comfort of their own homes.
Motsamai revealed that the concept started in 2017 under RSL modernization because it wanted to improve its services.
The minister of finance and development planning, Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, who officially launched the e-services, commended RSL for this initiative, saying it is wise for the country to also fit in the fourth industrial revolution for economic growth and not be left out.
Matlanyane said Southern African Custom Union (SACU) revenue has been declining for some time, saying this means fewer resources for financing the national budget hence the country needs to make plans to depend on itself for financing own budget.
“The government of Lesotho needs to be independent and improve tax mobilization, increase tax collection and enhance compliance.
“RSL needs to communicate its policy to the government so that it can play its part,” Matlanyane said.
The acting commissioner general of RSL, ‘Mathabo Mokoko said in collaboration with the stakeholders in the finance and economic industries, RSL is striving to improve and provide easy methods of tax payments and e-filling for their clients.
Mokoko said RSL is working hard to be a data-driven organisation so that data is accessible via online platforms, adding that such data drives the decisions that RSL make.
She said to effectively use data, RSL needs the right technologies such as the one launched, saying she is certain that many are happy that the returns they have filled today will not be demanded back to their services.
Among other partners, Mpho Mosotho who spoke on behalf of the managing director of Vodacom Lesotho financial services Palesa Mphunyetsane said through MPESA and the department of financial services, Basotho can individually pay tax online for their businesses.
Mosotho said Vodacom Lesotho financial services is glad to have partnered with RSL so as to allow their customers to pay their tax obligations online.
The product user, Ntsatsi Ranthocha said e-services are beneficial, adding that transportation and manual expenses are cut for clients and benefit them.
Ranthocha said before modernisation when lodging the declaration, he would spend more than three hours but now the innovation that RSL has brought on board allows him and his counterparts to spend less than 15 minutes for declaration and approval.
