By HELEN ZULU –
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has launched a tax dispute resolution initiative aimed at reducing the number of litigation cases arising from tax disputes.
The tax dispute resolution process is also aimed at ensuring that disputes are professionally and efficiently handled in a manner that inspires confidence on the part of taxpayers.
ZRA board chairperson Chileshe Kapwepwe said  the dispute resolution process also aims at providing an administratively independent review of disputes under the office of the commissioner general where an objection, appeal or review is dismissed by operating division.
She explained that disputes may arise from assessment or decisions made by operating division or department of ZRA such as domestic taxe division, investigations department, debt recovery unit and customs service division.
“We find that many a time disputes arise simply because taxpayers are not aware of what they need to do as provided for under the law. Conversely, we also note that many a grievance will go unresolved owing to the fact that taxpayers may not be aware of their rights, so starting from now, we are embarking on a process designed to address these challenges,” Ms Kapwepwe said.
She said the Tax dispute resolution process would be divorced from the operating units to ensure transparency, objectivity, coexistence and mutual achievement of goals.
Ms Kapwepwe said ZRA was.an institution that valued open dialogue and therefore aimed to enhance engagement with its stakeholders.
“We understand that tax law and business processes are dynamic and at times do not move at the same pace. We may not always agree on everything but going forward let us embrace a mechanism that addresses dispute resolution in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation,” she said.