Mwanakatwe announces deferment of GST implementation again
By Staff Reporter
The Government has again deferred the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) measure from July 1, to September 1, 2019.
The Zambian Government is abolishing Value Added Tax (VAT) replacing it with Sales Tax.
Finance minister Margaret Mwanakatwe told parliament in a ministerial statement that the decision was meant to allow the government to continue engaging various stakeholders on the new tax measures.
“Mr. Speaker, the bill is yet to undergo parliament procedures which include the second reading, committee stage and the third reading. Once passed by this parliament, the bill has to undergo presidential assent,” she said.
Mwanakatwe said the procedures could not be completed by July 1.
“To this end, I wish to inform this House and the nation that the implementation date has been moved to 1st September, 2019,” she emphasized.
The Finance Minister disclosed that government had continued to receive submissions from both the public and private sectors as they are sensitized on the content of the bill.
She said her ministry with the Zambia Revenue Authority held fruitful engagements with stakeholders in all the 10 provinces on the new law.
This is the second time GST regime is being deferred from April 1 and then July 1, 2019.
