The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has requested detailed information on property owners and tenants at the upmarket Borrowdale Brooke Golf Estate as it intensifies efforts to enforce tax compliance.
In a notice to residents dated 28 August, the Borrowdale Brooke Homeowners Association (BBHA) said ZIMRA had requested the names of property owners and tenants, lease commencement dates and contact details.
“The Borrowdale Brooke Homeowners Association wishes to advise residents that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has requested information relating to properties within the Estate,” the association said.
“The information requested is: property owner’s name; tenant’s name; lease commencement date; and contact details of owners and tenants.”
The association said the request was made under Section 39 of the Income Tax Act, which empowers the Commissioner to require persons to furnish further returns or information for the purposes of the Act.
It said it had sought external legal advice to establish the extent of its obligations and what information could lawfully be disclosed.
“The Association sought comprehensive external legal advice to determine the extent of its obligations and the scope of information that may lawfully be disclosed,” the notice said.
Following the advice, it concluded it was legally obliged to comply.
“In terms of the said provision, the Association is under a legal obligation to comply with the request,” it said.
The association said it was working with ZIMRA and would release the information shortly, but sought to reassure residents that no information beyond what was specifically requested would be disclosed.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangwana said rental income is taxable in Zimbabwe as it is in many other countries.
“Did you know? In Zimbabwe, as in many countries, a house that generates rental income is treated as a business. It’s simple: if a property is raising money, it should contribute to the national coffers like any other income-generating venture,” Mangwana said.
He said the taxation of rental income is not a new policy but is provided for in law, and what is new is the enforcement approach being adopted by ZIMRA.
“The Government, through ZIMRA, is now actively identifying property owners to ensure compliance. To make this effort yield immediate fruits, they have started with affluent areas where rental incomes are higher. It’s a cost-benefit strategy: deploy resources where the returns make sense,” he said.
Mangwana warned that property owners earning rental income should expect enforcement action.
“If you earn from property, expect ZIMRA to come calling. It’s time to pay your dues,” he said.
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