Mmegi

Gov’t engages Netflix as digital tax looms

Coming soon: 
Netflix is 
expected to 
come with a VAT increase for Batswana 
very soon 
PIC: BAUCEMAG.COM
Coming soon: Netflix is expected to come with a VAT increase for Batswana very soon PIC: BAUCEMAG.COM

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) is engaging global service corporates such as Netflix, as it finalises legislative changes that will see the tech giants and others charging tax for the services they supply into the country, and remitting collections to the tax agency.

Officials at the tax agency expect legislation for the Digital Services Tax (DST) to be placed before the December sitting of Parliament.

“That’s our wish, but the draft is still behind,” the Finance Ministry tax policy director, Boitshoko Keabofe-Medupe, told Mmegi during a briefing on Tuesday. “We had wanted it to pass through the July Parliament but because the draft was delayed, we are now seeing it going through Parliament in December. “It’s either it will be introduced in the calendar year or the tax year and we are still a bit behind, but the desire is that it must be in place.”

Editor's Comment
Our digital safety is in our hands

That sounds like good news. But the report also warns that this may simply be because our digital economy is still young, not because we are safe. As more people shop, bank and pay online, criminals will follow.We Batswana do not need a report to tell us that danger is real. Many of us have heard of or fallen victim to KYC scams. A caller impersonates your bank or mobile money provider. They say they need to “verify” your account. They ask...

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