Business
2024 budget will be pro-poor: Treasury – NewsDay
FINANCE, Economic Development and Investment Promotion deputy minister David Mnangagwa says the 2024 national budget figures are being “finalised and refined,” as the depreciating local currency continues to deplete Treasury coffers.
FINANCE, Economic Development and Investment Promotion deputy minister David Mnangagwa says the 2024 national budget figures are being “finalised and refined,” as the depreciating local currency continues to deplete Treasury coffers.
During pre-budget meetings, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube revealed that total bids for the 2024 national budget from government ministries, departments and agencies were ZWL$110 trillion.
However, Ncube indicated that Treasury could only afford a ZWL$47,8 trillion budget, 57% less than what ministries, departments and agencies require.
This was based on projected revenue of ZWL$44,1 trillion, with the deficit expected to be financed through debt securities.
In an interview with NewsDay Business at the just-ended Insurance Institute of Zimbabwe annual conference in Victoria Falls, Mnangagwa declined to comment on the budget figures, but only promised that the document would be ready in two weeks.
“We will continue with fiscal consolidation and tight monetary policy will be clearly articulated in the next two weeks. I don’t want to pre-empt, so I won’t assign any figures to that because it is being finalised and refined,” he said.
“But, for us, the economic outlook is positive and obviously the cake is never big enough for everyone. It is in line with our national development strategy.”
The budget comes as citizens demand that government spending should lean towards social services as the depreciation of the local currency continues to erode incomes.
This is because in the past, in times when revenues have been constrained as is the case now, social spending has often received the lowest budgetary support.
Critical social spending areas include healthcare, amenities infrastructure, food security and jobs.
However, Mnangagwa said the budget would be pro-production and pro-people.
“The whole country is a priority. It’s a pro-people, pro-production budget. The more production, the more infrastructure we have, the more employment you have and the circulation of money means that your women, your youths, are at an advantage coming from the policies that government deployed. So, I would say it is a pro-people, pro-production and pro-business budget,” he said.
“The budget is actually funded from what we are getting. Over the past two, three years, the consolidated revenue fund has actually been funding the fiscus. So, it’s been money in, money out. There is no printing of money.”
He continued: “If there was, it was to satisfy some of the legacy debt, through SI [Statutory Instrument] 108 of 2023 which was promulgated two months ago, which was assumed by the ministry. This means that as a nation we are no longer printing any money to service any external debt.”
He added that in terms of fiscal consolidation, Treasury will put a lid on money supply which has largely influenced the local currency’s massive loss of value. As of end of August, money supply had grown to ZWL$13,41 trillion from ZWL$2,33 trillion as of end of last year.
“We are keeping our eyes on that. Why you are seeing it much bigger is because it is in-line with economic growth and projected inflation which we are going to reduce 9 to 10% on month-on-month,” Mnangagwa said.
“I think we have a ZWL$44 trillion budget with just a deficit of 3% which is in line with our growth of inflation. In that regard, we have no plan to print money,” he said, adding that the 2024 national budget will be financed from tax revenues with the tax collector catering for about 95% of the budget.
Related Topics
Business
Mthuli squeezes consumers, businesses – NewsDay
In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.
GOVERNMENT yesterday announced a cocktail of tax increases, pushing up the cost of living and ease of doing business after reviewing its 2024 revenue projection upwards by 22,22% to ZWL$53,9 trillion.
In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.
Treasury initially projected revenue collections to total ZWL$44,1 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.
“Mr Speaker Sir, in line with the projected economic growth of 3,5%, total revenue collections in 2024 are estimated at ZWL$53,9 trillion, (18,3% of GDP), broken down as ZWL$51,2 trillion tax revenue and ZWL$2,7 trillion non-tax revenue,” Ncube said.
“Guided by the expected revenue envelope and the desired fiscal path, expenditures in 2024 are projected at ZWL$58,2 trillion (19,8% of GDP).”
Ncube announced an upward review on the Strategic Reserve Levy by US$0,03 and US$0,05 per litre of diesel and petrol, respectively, with effect from January 1, 2024, pushing up the cost of fuel.
Ncube also raised tollgate and passport fees beginning next year.
“I, therefore, propose an upward review of toll fees on premium roads, that is, Harare-Beitbridge and Plumtree-Mutare and other roads, with effect from January 1, 2024. Revenue derived from the increased fees will be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” Ncube said.
“I, further, propose that passport and selected fees charged by the Central Vehicle Registry be increased, with effect from January 1, 2024. Additional revenue generated from the above measures will be ring-fenced towards road infrastructure development.”
Ncube also introduced a US$0,02 levy per gramme of sugar contained in beverages, a development that will push up the prices of beverages.
He said the move was in response to growing concerns on the adverse effects of the consumption of sugar contained in beverages. Tax on beverages has also been implemented in a number of countries, including in the Southern African Development Community.
Ncube also introduced a new wealth tax to ensure that high-income earners pay taxes.
“In order to ensure that every person contributes to the fiscus in line with their levels of income. I propose to introduce a wealth tax levied at a rate of 1% of market values of residential properties with a minimum value of US$100 000,” he said.
“Resources derived from the levy will be ring-fenced towards urban infrastructure development, in particular roads, water, sewer and community health centres. Principal private residential properties owned by elderly persons above 70 years will, however, be exempt from the tax.”
While the minister reviewed the tax-free threshold on incomes to ZWL$750 000, from the previous ZWL$500 000, inflation has rendered the move mute because of the rising cost of living.
Ncube also targeted foreign companies by introducing the domestic minimum top-up tax (DMTT).
The tax ensures that qualifying entities located in Zimbabwe with an aggregate effective tax rate below 15% be charged a top-up amount, raising the cost of doing business.
“Under the GloBE Tax Rules, where a tax incentive results in an effective rate of less than 15%, the tax jurisdiction where the multinational is headquartered collects the difference between the effective tax under the tax incentive and the minimum effective rate of 15% (the top-up tax),” Ncube said.
“The DMTT allows the country where the low tax profits arise from the tax incentive to collect the top-up tax rather than ceding taxing rights to the headquarter jurisdiction.”
He said the calculation of the DMTT would be based on the effective tax rate charged on the jurisdictional profits, not the jurisdictions’ statutory corporate income tax.
“I, therefore, propose to enact DMTT rules to guard against ceding taxing rights to foreign jurisdictions on top-up tax arising from tax incentives that are provided to those investments,” Ncube said. The corporate tax rate was also reviewed upwards to 25% from 24%.
Ncube, however, reduced the mandatory value added tax (Vat) registration threshold to US$25 000 from US$40 000, starting next year.
Operators with a minimum annual turnover of US$25 000, or local currency equivalent thereof, are now required to register for Vat.
Failure to register will see applicable penalties invoked, Ncube said.
He said traders registered for Vat purposes and in possession of valid tax clearance certificates would be eligible to procure goods from manufacturers.
“The tax deferred will, however, be fixed at the foreign currency amount payable at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.”
Related Topics
Business
Mthuli squeezes consumers, businesses – NewsDay
In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.
GOVERNMENT yesterday announced a cocktail of tax increases, pushing up the cost of living and ease of doing business after reviewing its 2024 revenue projection upwards by 22,22% to ZWL$53,9 trillion.
In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.
Treasury initially projected revenue collections to total ZWL$44,1 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.
“Mr Speaker Sir, in line with the projected economic growth of 3,5%, total revenue collections in 2024 are estimated at ZWL$53,9 trillion, (18,3% of GDP), broken down as ZWL$51,2 trillion tax revenue and ZWL$2,7 trillion non-tax revenue,” Ncube said.
“Guided by the expected revenue envelope and the desired fiscal path, expenditures in 2024 are projected at ZWL$58,2 trillion (19,8% of GDP).”
Ncube announced an upward review on the Strategic Reserve Levy by US$0,03 and US$0,05 per litre of diesel and petrol, respectively, with effect from January 1, 2024, pushing up the cost of fuel.
Ncube also raised tollgate and passport fees beginning next year.
“I, therefore, propose an upward review of toll fees on premium roads, that is, Harare-Beitbridge and Plumtree-Mutare and other roads, with effect from January 1, 2024. Revenue derived from the increased fees will be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” Ncube said.
“I, further, propose that passport and selected fees charged by the Central Vehicle Registry be increased, with effect from January 1, 2024. Additional revenue generated from the above measures will be ring-fenced towards road infrastructure development.”
Ncube also introduced a US$0,02 levy per gramme of sugar contained in beverages, a development that will push up the prices of beverages.
He said the move was in response to growing concerns on the adverse effects of the consumption of sugar contained in beverages. Tax on beverages has also been implemented in a number of countries, including in the Southern African Development Community.
Ncube also introduced a new wealth tax to ensure that high-income earners pay taxes.
“In order to ensure that every person contributes to the fiscus in line with their levels of income. I propose to introduce a wealth tax levied at a rate of 1% of market values of residential properties with a minimum value of US$100 000,” he said.
“Resources derived from the levy will be ring-fenced towards urban infrastructure development, in particular roads, water, sewer and community health centres. Principal private residential properties owned by elderly persons above 70 years will, however, be exempt from the tax.”
While the minister reviewed the tax-free threshold on incomes to ZWL$750 000, from the previous ZWL$500 000, inflation has rendered the move mute because of the rising cost of living.
Ncube also targeted foreign companies by introducing the domestic minimum top-up tax (DMTT).
The tax ensures that qualifying entities located in Zimbabwe with an aggregate effective tax rate below 15% be charged a top-up amount, raising the cost of doing business.
“Under the GloBE Tax Rules, where a tax incentive results in an effective rate of less than 15%, the tax jurisdiction where the multinational is headquartered collects the difference between the effective tax under the tax incentive and the minimum effective rate of 15% (the top-up tax),” Ncube said.
“The DMTT allows the country where the low tax profits arise from the tax incentive to collect the top-up tax rather than ceding taxing rights to the headquarter jurisdiction.”
He said the calculation of the DMTT would be based on the effective tax rate charged on the jurisdictional profits, not the jurisdictions’ statutory corporate income tax.
“I, therefore, propose to enact DMTT rules to guard against ceding taxing rights to foreign jurisdictions on top-up tax arising from tax incentives that are provided to those investments,” Ncube said. The corporate tax rate was also reviewed upwards to 25% from 24%.
Ncube, however, reduced the mandatory value added tax (Vat) registration threshold to US$25 000 from US$40 000, starting next year.
Operators with a minimum annual turnover of US$25 000, or local currency equivalent thereof, are now required to register for Vat.
Failure to register will see applicable penalties invoked, Ncube said.
He said traders registered for Vat purposes and in possession of valid tax clearance certificates would be eligible to procure goods from manufacturers.
“The tax deferred will, however, be fixed at the foreign currency amount payable at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.”
Related Topics
Business
Mthuli squeezes consumers, businesses – NewsDay
In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.
GOVERNMENT yesterday announced a cocktail of tax increases, pushing up the cost of living and ease of doing business after reviewing its 2024 revenue projection upwards by 22,22% to ZWL$53,9 trillion.
In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.
Treasury initially projected revenue collections to total ZWL$44,1 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.
“Mr Speaker Sir, in line with the projected economic growth of 3,5%, total revenue collections in 2024 are estimated at ZWL$53,9 trillion, (18,3% of GDP), broken down as ZWL$51,2 trillion tax revenue and ZWL$2,7 trillion non-tax revenue,” Ncube said.
“Guided by the expected revenue envelope and the desired fiscal path, expenditures in 2024 are projected at ZWL$58,2 trillion (19,8% of GDP).”
Ncube announced an upward review on the Strategic Reserve Levy by US$0,03 and US$0,05 per litre of diesel and petrol, respectively, with effect from January 1, 2024, pushing up the cost of fuel.
Ncube also raised tollgate and passport fees beginning next year.
“I, therefore, propose an upward review of toll fees on premium roads, that is, Harare-Beitbridge and Plumtree-Mutare and other roads, with effect from January 1, 2024. Revenue derived from the increased fees will be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” Ncube said.
“I, further, propose that passport and selected fees charged by the Central Vehicle Registry be increased, with effect from January 1, 2024. Additional revenue generated from the above measures will be ring-fenced towards road infrastructure development.”
Ncube also introduced a US$0,02 levy per gramme of sugar contained in beverages, a development that will push up the prices of beverages.
He said the move was in response to growing concerns on the adverse effects of the consumption of sugar contained in beverages. Tax on beverages has also been implemented in a number of countries, including in the Southern African Development Community.
Ncube also introduced a new wealth tax to ensure that high-income earners pay taxes.
“In order to ensure that every person contributes to the fiscus in line with their levels of income. I propose to introduce a wealth tax levied at a rate of 1% of market values of residential properties with a minimum value of US$100 000,” he said.
“Resources derived from the levy will be ring-fenced towards urban infrastructure development, in particular roads, water, sewer and community health centres. Principal private residential properties owned by elderly persons above 70 years will, however, be exempt from the tax.”
While the minister reviewed the tax-free threshold on incomes to ZWL$750 000, from the previous ZWL$500 000, inflation has rendered the move mute because of the rising cost of living.
Ncube also targeted foreign companies by introducing the domestic minimum top-up tax (DMTT).
The tax ensures that qualifying entities located in Zimbabwe with an aggregate effective tax rate below 15% be charged a top-up amount, raising the cost of doing business.
“Under the GloBE Tax Rules, where a tax incentive results in an effective rate of less than 15%, the tax jurisdiction where the multinational is headquartered collects the difference between the effective tax under the tax incentive and the minimum effective rate of 15% (the top-up tax),” Ncube said.
“The DMTT allows the country where the low tax profits arise from the tax incentive to collect the top-up tax rather than ceding taxing rights to the headquarter jurisdiction.”
He said the calculation of the DMTT would be based on the effective tax rate charged on the jurisdictional profits, not the jurisdictions’ statutory corporate income tax.
“I, therefore, propose to enact DMTT rules to guard against ceding taxing rights to foreign jurisdictions on top-up tax arising from tax incentives that are provided to those investments,” Ncube said. The corporate tax rate was also reviewed upwards to 25% from 24%.
Ncube, however, reduced the mandatory value added tax (Vat) registration threshold to US$25 000 from US$40 000, starting next year.
Operators with a minimum annual turnover of US$25 000, or local currency equivalent thereof, are now required to register for Vat.
Failure to register will see applicable penalties invoked, Ncube said.
He said traders registered for Vat purposes and in possession of valid tax clearance certificates would be eligible to procure goods from manufacturers.
“The tax deferred will, however, be fixed at the foreign currency amount payable at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.”
Related Topics
Mliswa demands answers on Munatsi’s death, questions silence two years since mysterious fire
Premier League news live: Latest updates from today’s press conferences and weekend preview – The Athletic
Breaking news – Chronicle
Book Review-The Day Salisbury Fuel Tanks were set ablaze, December 11, 1978
A NEW BOOK AVAILABLE AT: SAM LEVY VILLAGE – BOOK BAZAAR | THE DAY SALISBURY FUEL TANKS WERE SET ABLAZE ON DECEMBER 11 – 1978 | ZIMBABWE’S INVALUABLE HISTORIC TREASURE
UK: Zimbabwe-born Vee Kativhu makes list of 100 most influential … – New Zimbabwe.com
-
About Us2 months agoBook Review-The Day Salisbury Fuel Tanks were set ablaze, December 11, 1978
-
About Us2 months agoA NEW BOOK AVAILABLE AT: SAM LEVY VILLAGE – BOOK BAZAAR | THE DAY SALISBURY FUEL TANKS WERE SET ABLAZE ON DECEMBER 11 – 1978 | ZIMBABWE’S INVALUABLE HISTORIC TREASURE
-
education1 week agoUK: Zimbabwe-born Vee Kativhu makes list of 100 most influential … – New Zimbabwe.com
-
Entertainment news5 days agoWar vets, minister lock horns – NewsDay
-
Business1 month agoWho Is Who On Zimbabwe Digital Wall Of Fame | New Book Release !!!!!!!!!
-
education2 weeks agoMSU honours Prof Bhebe – The Herald
-
agriculture3 weeks agoYouths key to reducing Kariba overfishing: FAO – NewsDay
-
Business5 days agoLetter to my people: Desperation for validation has reached comic … – The Standard – Zimbabwe