FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube yesterday introduced a cocktail of new taxes, including a Fast Foods Tax, while ignoring industry’s calls to reduce or make the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) deductible for business.
In the run-up to the 2025 National Budget, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) described the IMTT as a form of “double-dipping” by the government.
Individuals and industrial bodies, including banks, lobbied for the 2% IMTT, introduced about six years ago, to be reduced.
The Bankers Association of Zimbabwe argued that IMTT was driving the economy further into informality, with most transactions taking place outside the formal system.
They argued that the bulk of transactions had shifted to the informal market as businesses tried to avoid taxation, leading to revenue losses.
This view was shared by the ZNCC and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers.
But presenting the 2025 National Budget yesterday, Ncube ignored the calls. Instead, he piled fresh taxes into the economy.
“The consumption of highly processed food has been identified as one of the factors responsible for the prevalence of obesity and associated non-communicable diseases, hence, the need for the government to promote responsible consumption of such foods,” he said.
- Power crisis hits Proplastics factory
- ‘No easy road to recovery for Zim’
- Women urged to take advantage of Women’s Bank
- Half of Zim youths loafing: ZimStat
Keep Reading
“In view of the above, I propose to introduce a Fast Foods Tax on the value of the following food items sold by fast food retail outlets and restaurants at a modest rate of 0,5% on the sales value, with effect from January 1, 2025: pizza, burger and hot dog, Shawarma, French fries, chicken, doughnuts and similar products, and Tacos.
“It is envisaged that the proposed tax will go a long way in encouraging operators to adopt culinary practices that promote healthy eating.”
In order to embrace punters into the tax base, Ncube proposed to introduce a 10% Withholding Tax on gross winnings of sports betting punters, with effect from next year.
He said the Withholding Tax will apply on both in-house and online sports betting managed by land-based bookmakers. Bookmakers will, thus, be obliged to withhold the tax on behalf of government.
In order to provide an opportunity for the emerging sector to contribute to the fiscus, Ncube prescribed mandatory registration for Corporate and Personal Income Tax.
The emerging sector includes fabric merchandisers, clothing merchandisers/boutiques, spare parts dealers, car dealers, grocery and kitchenware merchandisers, hardware operators and lodges.
“Furthermore, I propose that the mentioned operators be mandated to regularise registration of their operations with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), transact through point-of-sale machines and maintain records of all transactions, by 1 January 2025,” he said.
“I, further, propose to empower Zimra to temporarily close businesses which fail to adhere to the above requirements, including failure to register for tax purposes, until such registration and payment of applicable taxes are completed.
“In addition, I propose to extend the Virtual Fiscalisation System for the recording of VAT (Value-Added Tax) taxable transactions to micro and small enterprises whose turnover falls below the VAT registration threshold for purposes of monitoring sales, during the first quarter of 2025.
“This will assist in promoting transparency and ultimately enhance tax compliance by micro and small enterprises.”
The minister also proposed that all properties that have been converted from residential to business properties be subjected to rental income tax at a rate of 25% and accounted for separately by Zimra.
In order to create a level playing field between ready-to-drink beverages and cordials, he proposed to review the special surtax on beverages’ sugar content on cordials from US$0,001 per gramme to US$0,0005/g, with effect from January 1, 2025.
Ncube proposed to reduce customs duty on electric motor vehicles to 25% from the current 40%, cognisant of the need to promote use of eco-friendly vehicles, which will result in reduced carbon emissions.
He further proposed to extend rebate of duty on equipment used for setting up electrical vehicle solar-powered charging stations, imported by approved operators.
Yesterday, the official exchange rate stood at ZiG$25,3:US$1 when Finance minister Mthuli Ncube presented the 2025 National Budget statement.
