By Phiwa Sikhondze
The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has announced the postponement of the launch of its Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) from December 1, 2023, to mid-January 2024.
The IRAS is a computerized self-service portal system with better functionalities, compared to the previous system. The Revenue Service when launching the IRAS in October 2023 stated that it would be canceling the current e-Tax and introducing the new self-service portal which taxpayers were expected to start interacting with from December 1.
The IRAS will enable taxpayers to see their balances and include automatic reminders and notifications. It also allows taxpayers to access their tax certificates, and also file their tax returns without visiting the ERS service centres.
According to a media statement issued by the ERS Director of Communications and Marketing, Vusie Dlamini, the reason for the postponement is to sensitize and train the clients on how to use the new system.
He said that it is critical to ensure that clients are capacitated on how to navigate through the system before it is switched on. He also said that clients will still be able to use the e-Tax platform to submit their returns until the new system is switched on.
The IRAS project is supported by the World Bank and the European Union and was initially tested in Nansana, Fort Portal City, and Gulu City in Uganda.
The system is simple to use, as the taxpayer can access it through a mobile phone or a computer. The system will also enable the integration of the ERS with other systems, such as the ASYCUDAWorld, which is a customs management system that the ERS uses for trade facilitation.
The ERS encourages clients to speak to their Client Relationship Managers or their Contact Centre team on 24064050, info@ers.org.sz, or send a WhatsApp to 7606 3735 for more information or feedback.