The Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) in partnership with Vodacom Financial Services (VCLFS) launched USSD for the e-payments system, at the event held in Maseru on Tuesday.
The RSL Deputy Commissioner of Revenue Compliance, Mr. Mokhethi Mabea said traders have an obligation to pay taxes thus in 2008, they changed their strategic direction in order to provide easy access to tax payments hence they adopted East Model.
Mr. Mabea said the East model allows easy, social, simple and attractive traders and individuals to pay their taxes, saying their strategic model aligns with the tax administration model that is well known as the compliance model.
He said based on their model, they found it necessary to launch this platform so that they see to it that all tax services they provide to taxpayers are available online, starting with registration until the taxpayer life cycle is complete.
He added that the launch of USSD e-payment will improve and make tax payment easy for taxpayers, urging Basotho to use this platform.
He said through this platform their client will be able to pay both for customs and index taxes, adding that the clients will be able to make payments which are correctly referenced
Also speaking, the Managing Director of VCL Financial Services, Ms. Palesa Mphunyetsane said in March, they introduced a new method of paying tax via the internet where individuals use the website, but they realise that many people are not able to use the website to pay their tax hence the launch of USSD e-payment.
Ms. Mphunyetsane said the launch of USSD e-payment allows taxpayers to use M-pesa to pay their taxes, saying that according to FinMark Trust Report 2021, over 1 million people use M-pesa monthly.
She said this platform is going to allow taxpayers to have easy and social access to tax services provided by RSL.
When outlining the product, Product Manager, Mrs. Mpho Mosotho said to access the RSL services via M-pesa, the Vodacom user must dial *200# and follow the instructions.
This is the second online tax-paying platform Launched by RSL.
By Staff Reporter: Noliwe Velaphe
