Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) spent E235.9 million on salaries, wages and benefits for its 609 employees during the 2020/21 financial year.
This was a slight increase from the E234.8 million which had been recorded during the same period last year when the staff complement was 608 employees. The actual amount of money spent on the salaries, wages and other allowances in 2021 was E235 881 729.
In 2020, ERS paid out E234 761 321
The difference in the amount of salaries when compared was E1 120 408. Independent calculations by the Eswatini Observer Business Desk reflected that the change in salaries and wages equated to 0.48 per cent, which was far below inflation, which currently stands at 3.7 per cent.
Overall, when putting into account provident fund contribution, pension contributions and leave pay provision, ERS paid E274 338 098 compared to E271 164 567 in 2020. It should be noted that former Commissioner General Dumisani Masilela explained that the the year 2020-21 had been the most difficult in the history of the ERS.
It should, however, be clarified that the current acting Commissioner General is Brightwell Nkambule.
It was reported that total tax revenue collections amounted to E9.945 billion against a target of E11.403 billion, which was a 13 per cent below target performance.
The revenue collections showed a shortfall E1.458 billion on the set target and was also lower than prior year collections by 0.1 per cent. It was pointed out that mixed performances were observed amongst the tax types with a few recording an above target performance whilst all major types recorded a below target performance.
Other income taxes were above target due to an increase in taxes paid by non-residents, while import motor vehicle levy recorded an above target performance due to an upward revision of the levy in the later part of the financial year.
Company taxes, individual taxes, graded tax, road toll, lotteries and gaming, fuel tax, alcohol and tobacco levy were all below target, mainly due to the impact of the various restrictions put in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
