The Reform of the Tax system in Swaziland

Abstract

This paper documents the tax reforms implemented in Swaziland since the 1990s and how they have contributed to revenue collection. Reforms
have had a major impact on collection of indirect taxes (especially VAT) but no clear impact on receipts of direct taxes and trade taxes. Despite
efforts to broaden the tax base, tax collection is still heavily concentrated on very few sources, with SACU receipts alone accounting for more

than one-half of total revenue. Growth in revenue collections from direct taxes on income and profits, and indirect taxes on goods and services
remain substantially too low to compensate for the loss in import tariff revenues.

IPRAA WORKING PAPER 99

JEL Classification: H20, H24, H27.
Key words: Tax Reform, Tax System, Tax Administration and Policy, Swaziland.

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