TCS bags three year contract from Zambian government

Zambian government has choosen India based IT giant, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as its IT partner to modernize its domestic tax system. TCS has won a three year contract from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). This is TCS' third revenue and tax system automation project in the African region after an implementation for Uganda Revenue Authority and ongoing implementation for Kenya Revenue Authority.

As per the deal, TCS will provide an integrated tax software application based on TCS' taxation framework, taxpayer 24/7 portal for e-services delivery, data migration, training, roll-out, warranty and operational support.

TCS will extend an integrated and multi-tax system covering VAT, Income Tax, Pay-As-You-Earn, Presumptive Tax, Turnover Tax, Mineral Royalty Tax, Excise, Property Transfer Tax, Medical Levy and Withholding Tax. Once operational, this system is expected to transform the service delivery to taxpayers, support the country's sixth National Development Plan and assist ZRA to better control and monitor operations as well as prevent and detect potential revenue leakages. Further, the new system is also expected to bring about a higher degree of accountability and transparency to the public.

Tanmoy Chakrabarty, Vice President & Global Head, Government Industry Solutions Unit, TCS said, "The taxation project is all about service delivery transformation through a technology-led, service oriented approach. The new TCS tax framework will help Zambian government offer world class delivery of taxation services to its citizens as well as provide an effective monitoring system for its tax officials."

Berlin Msiska, Commissioner General, Zambia Revenue Authority said, "TaxOnline will also enable the authority to detect and deter any tax evasions through the intense cross analysis of the tax information and tax compliance which will eventually improve tax collection. With this system taxpayers would experience new E- services and simpler tax processes resulting in improved levels of voluntary compliance".

TCS has completed over 15 tax framework implementations in India, seven in USA and two in Africa, until now.