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From Oliver Kazunga in Victoria Falls
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says it is ready to launch its new automated revenue machines in a move aimed at promoting easy processing of documents and payment of tax.

The facility will operate in a similar way to automated teller machines used by banks, thereby increasing client satisfaction.

“We’ll soon launch automated revenue machines (ARMs) across the country. Our teams are almost finishing the configurations and the pilot projects will be launched very soon,” Zimra Commissioner General Gershem Pasi, said.

“The automated revenue machines, for example, allow one to view his account with Zimra and be able to make tax declarations.”

He said this while briefing journalists on the sidelines of a high level African Tax Administrators’ Forum in Victoria Falls on Wednesday.

Earlier on Pasi told delegates to the conference that customs administrations should always strive to provide convenience to their clients.

He said this would make it easier for tax collectors’ clients to comply with fiscal legislation.

Pasi said the major thrust of the conference was to explore how technology could be fully embraced by revenue administrations in order to minimise operational costs and enhance voluntary tax compliance.

“Tax and customs administrations should always strive to provide convenience to their clients and make complying with fiscal legislation easier.

“Technology contributes immensely to the attainment of this goal than the simplification of processes and procedures and ease of clearance and payment through the electronic system,” he said.

ATAF began on Wednesday under the theme, “ICT in tax administration leadership” and ends today. Pasi said the theme resonates well with the vision of the ATAF, which is to promote efficient and effective tax administration to improve the living standards of people in Africa.

“Some of the topics of the conference include the establishment of integrated revenue collection platforms, leveraging global trends in ICT,” he said, adding that revenue administrations were responsible for facilitating trade and mobilising resources for governments to promote national socio-economic development agendas.

Against this background, Pasi said the efficiency with which revenue agencies execute their mandates was directly related to the rate of economic growth and social development in different countries.

“If properly harnessed, technology has the ultimate result of creating efficient virtual tax offices characterised by online transactions, assessment and payment.

“This can only be achieved when the appropriate technology is backed up by officers with relevant skills.

“Therefore, consistent capacity building is critical to ensure that our officers don’t end up with good skills which are, however, not aligned to technologies we embrace,” he said.

Pasi stressed the need to align fiscal legislation with changes in technology so that harnessing ICT would not end up being stifled by the absence of supporting legislation.

“We’ve no option but to consistently respond to the ever-changing demanding needs of today’s technologically sophisticated clients. These pressures call for continued review of systems and operating procedures,” he said.