Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini Revenue Service’s (ERS) Tax Debt Relief programme has contributed to reduction of the debt to revenue ratio from a staggering 84.9 per cent to 61.78 per cent in the year 2022-23.
This was stated by ERS Governing Board Chairperson David Dlamini last Friday during the ERS inaugural Client Appreciation Day. ERS client appreciation day was meant to recognise and reward members of the business community who contributed to the fiscus and were fully compliant with legislation administered by the ERS as such was done through timely declaration and payment of taxes.
Heeding
In his remarks, Dlamini appreciated ERS management for heeding the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg’s call, which led to the establishment of the Debt Relief Programme that was launched exactly one month after the date of the minister’s pronouncement. He said to show commitment to the cause, Rijkenberg personally launched the programme on May 5, 2022.
“I have been reliably informed the ERS management that this was one programme that got thousands of ERS clients, duly applied and were beneficiaries of the programme. “I am also happy to inform you honourable minister that this programme has contributed to reduction of the debt to rvenue ratio from a staggering 84.9 per cent from the time you launched the Debt Relief last year to some 61.78 per cent in the year 2022-23,” said Dlamini.’’
Ih his key note address, the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said taxes remained the most sustainable source of funding for government programmes. He said the other options included borrowing, donations and direct investment in money generating businesses.
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