Getting ready for my zim trip in 3 weeks. Going thru the paper work.

Looks like Zim now imposes a 15 percent VAT on trophies that are not exported, bait animals and wounded game.

Mike

The government seems desperate. They are rapidly pricing themselves out of the market. Unfortunately, they may end up like Tanzania.

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15 percent VAT on trophies that are not exported, bait animals and wounded game.

Granted that nobody likes to be taxed but VAT is alive and well all over Europe yet nobody seems to throw a fit about paying it.

VAT will be refunded if the goods are exported and upon presentation of the purchase receipt. What's all the fuss about? .... or is it because VAT is non existent in the USA?

Africa is slowly evolving and thus keeping in step with the civilized West and ... in case some of you don't know, it is the work of organizations like the IMF and WB that impose/train the Tax man in the backward African states on how and where to apply tax in different forms if they want to benefit from loans, grants, etc.

South Africa is VAT applicable on all purchases yet there's not a peep from the crowd or is the VAT element in some areas hidden or tailored into the cost?

The government trophy fee on a buff for example is already insanely high. They have a host of taxes already. Now they are adding this. My understanding is that it will not be refunded. It adds more or less $750 to the cost of a buff.

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Originally posted by larryshores:
The government trophy fee on a buff for example is already insanely high. They have a host of taxes already. Now they are adding this. My understanding is that it will not be refunded. It adds more or less $750 to the cost of a buff.

Supply and demand being the main culprit.

BTW compare trophy fee on Buffalo between TZ and RSA - yes, the entire hunt will be cheaper overall due to lower daily rates and you know the reason for that.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
The government trophy fee on a buff for example is already insanely high. They have a host of taxes already. Now they are adding this. My understanding is that it will not be refunded. It adds more or less $750 to the cost of a buff.

+1

It's just a tax by zim govt on international hunters.

Now if you shoot anything in zim that is not exported - bait, wounded animals or animals shot for photo only - there will be an additional 15 percent tax.

What about all the guys going to zim to support the operators and zim from USFW elephant import ban. Now zim govt charges you an additional 15 percent for the privilege of leaving the ivory or skin with your ph.

Mike

Most of the comments, like about VAT being prevalent in Europe, ignore the situation in Zimbabwe, where this "taxation" simply goes to the misruling party as various slush funds.

They have an "election" coming up (which everyone knows who has already "won") and intimidation and violence cost money. Funds so genetated certainly don't benefit the people or contribute to the national infrastructure.

If you drive from Harare to Bulawayo you will pass through 15-20 police roadblocks, minimum. It''s worse than Congo-Brazzaville back in the dark ages of the eighties, (but at least these parasites haven't yet figured out that they could also require you to produce a passport at each one) and the news today predicted that the "police" expect to raise $60 million this year from traffic fines.

The rot is complete, and they are desperate.

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Originally posted by fulvio:

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15 percent VAT on trophies that are not exported, bait animals and wounded game.

Granted that nobody likes to be taxed but VAT is alive and well all over Europe yet nobody seems to throw a fit about paying it.

VAT will be refunded if the goods are exported and upon presentation of the purchase receipt. What's all the fuss about? .... or is it because VAT is non existent in the USA?

Africa is slowly evolving and thus keeping in step with the civilized West and ... in case some of you don't know, it is the work of organizations like the IMF and WB that impose/train the Tax man in the backward African states on how and where to apply tax in different forms if they want to benefit from loans, grants, etc.

South Africa is VAT applicable on all purchases yet there's not a peep from the crowd or is the VAT element in some areas hidden or tailored into the cost?

I would not expect optional tax policy from a government that had 78.6 billion percent inflation a month (November 2008). All tax in Zim have a single objective and it aint public welfare.

Mike

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Originally posted by fulvio:


Supply and demand being the main culprit.

Really, then why are places like the Bubye not meeting their quotas?

Folks,

Suggestion: Gary Duckworth says he is telling his hunters to at least export the tail of bait animals to avoid the tax on those. As for shooting trophy animals and not exporting it would seem the tax will apply. I think since the intent on the elephant is to export "when" it becomes allowed by US, F&G the tax will not apply. Could be the same on lion. I'll try to get confirmation on that. BTW this 15% is on top of the existing trophy fee tax.

Mark

Is the existing trophy fee tax amount included in the amount subject to the new VAT tax? i.e. a tax on a tax?

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Originally posted by jorge:

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Originally posted by fulvio:


Supply and demand being the main culprit.

Really, then why are places like the Bubye not meeting their quotas?

Probably due to being over rated and over priced compared to other African hunting destinations.

Give me a break, $6,000 for a Buffalo? ... $8,500 for Leopard ... $6,500 for Sable? .... $2,000 for a Bushbuck? .... last but not least $47,500 for a Lion?

Even the Bubye has 15% VAT + Taxes on Daily Rates & Trophy fees but like I said earlier, because most of these areas are either game ranches or tracts of land that allow for permanent habitation, the related logistics costs are more than halved.

Folks,

Rec'd confirmation that the 15% tax DOES apply to lion, trophy elephant and tuskless. Non-trophy/non-exportable elephant and buffalo are exempt.

Mark

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BTW this 15% is on top of the existing trophy fee tax.

ZIM quickly learn from (TRA) Tanzania Revenue Authority.

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Originally posted by fulvio:

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Originally posted by jorge:

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:


Supply and demand being the main culprit.

Really, then why are places like the Bubye not meeting their quotas?

Probably due to being over rated and over priced compared to other African hunting destinations.

Give me a break, $6,000 for a Buffalo? ... $8,500 for Leopard ... $6,500 for Sable? .... $2,000 for a Bushbuck? .... last but not least $47,500 for a Lion?

Even the Bubye has 15% VAT + Taxes on Daily Rates & Trophy fees but like I said earlier, because most of these areas are either game ranches or tracts of land that allow for permanent habitation, the related logistics costs are more than halved.

That's why I will probably go elsewhere like Moz for my next safari

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That's why I will probably go elsewhere like Moz for my next safari

Choose your outfitter carefully though; all that glisters is not gold.

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Originally posted by fulvio:

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That's why I will probably go elsewhere like Moz for my next safari

Choose your outfitter carefully though; all that glisters is not gold.

And this applies to all countries!

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Originally posted by fulvio:

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That's why I will probably go elsewhere like Moz for my next safari

Choose your outfitter carefully though; all that glisters is not gold.

Believe me, I have ZERO worries there..

You can't fix stupid( or greedy) and Zim has an over abundance of both among the morons in charge.

It is sad. I have had some great safaris in Zim. I have some good friends there. I see a trip to Zambia in the future.

It IS sad. My last trip to Zim will be coming up in August. I see Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana or Zambia in any future trips, but not Zimbabwe. Government greed knows no end there.

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Originally posted by jorge:

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Originally posted by fulvio:

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That's why I will probably go elsewhere like Moz for my next safari

Choose your outfitter carefully though; all that glisters is not gold.

Believe me, I have ZERO worries there..

You're beginning to sound like someone we know.