EZULWINI, September 23, 2026 The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has set a domestic revenue collection target of E19.48 billion for the 2026/27 financial year as the country opened its annual income tax filing season.
Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg officially launched the 2026 Annual Income Tax Return Filing Season at the ERS headquarters in Ezulwini on Wednesday under the theme, “File Right. File On Time.”
The filing season marks a key period in Eswatini’s tax calendar, with taxpayers required to declare their income, meet filing obligations and settle any taxes due within prescribed deadlines.
The ERS said this year’s campaign is focused on accurate and timely submissions while encouraging taxpayers to prepare early, understand their obligations and make use of the revenue authority’s electronic services and support channels.
The E19.48 billion target represents revenue the government expects to use to fund public programmes and services, including roads, healthcare, education, public safety, social programmes and infrastructure development.
Rijkenberg said achieving the target would require cooperation between government, the ERS and taxpayers.
He called on taxpayers to accurately declare their income, submit returns within the required periods and pay taxes due.
The minister warned that income that is underdeclared or not declared reduces the resources available to government and could increase the country’s dependence on borrowing.
“This is neither sustainable nor desirable for the whole nation in the long term,” he said.
ERS expands wealthy taxpayer category
The 2026 filing season has also introduced an expanded definition of high net worth individuals for income tax purposes.
Previously, the category largely focused on individuals earning annual income of E3 million or more. Under the new approach, people may also fall into the category where their combined assets are valued at E3 million or more.
The assets covered include immovable property, movable property, financial investments, shares, bonds and other significant assets.
The expanded category will also cover individuals whose minor children hold assets with a combined value of E3 million or more, as well as trustees and trust funds. Trustees of recognised and registered pension funds are excluded.
Rijkenberg said the change followed concerns that annual income alone does not always provide a complete picture of a person’s economic position.
“Experience has shown that significant wealth may not always be reflected through annual earnings alone,” he said. “In some cases, individuals with substantial economic resources have never declared income at all despite controlling significant assets,” Rijkenberg said.
He said the broader approach was not intended to discourage investment or wealth creation, but to improve fairness and transparency in the tax system.
The minister said taxpayers with substantial economic resources needed to be properly accounted for within the country’s tax administration system.
The change forms part of efforts by the ERS to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and improve compliance across different sectors of the economy.
Property information to be verified
ERS Commissioner General Brightwell Nkambule said municipalities would become important partners in implementing the expanded approach, particularly regarding immovable property.
He said municipalities would assist the revenue authority in validating information concerning properties held by taxpayers.
“These assets must be declared. We’re not saying the assets will be taxed, but they must be declared,” Nkambule said.
The ERS said declaring an asset does not automatically mean that the asset itself will be subjected to income tax. Instead, information on assets will help the authority assess taxpayers’ economic circumstances and determine whether their tax obligations have been properly met.
The initiative forms part of the ERS strategy towards achieving its vision of 100% voluntary compliance.
The authority’s mandate includes assessing and collecting government revenue, promoting compliance with revenue legislation and taking measures against tax fraud and evasion.
Different deadlines for taxpayers
Different categories of taxpayers have been given separate filing and payment deadlines for the 2026 season.
Resident trusts, VAT registered businesses, non VAT registered businesses and presumptive taxpayers must file their returns and pay any tax due by October 31, 2026.
Individuals earning employment income and other sources of income, high net worth individuals and other special taxpayer categories must pay any tax due by November 30, 2026.
Both Rijkenberg and ERS Board Chairman David Dlamini urged taxpayers to begin preparing their returns early instead of waiting until the final days of the filing period.
Rijkenberg encouraged taxpayers to use the ERS electronic filing facility and seek assistance from the revenue authority if they were uncertain about their obligations.
He acknowledged that changes to tax systems and processes could require taxpayers to adjust, but said the reforms were intended to make tax administration easier.
Dlamini said the filing season provided an opportunity to remind taxpayers of their contribution to national development.
He said accuracy and timeliness were central to an effective tax system and that compliance went beyond simply fulfilling a legal requirement.
The ERS Board chairman said the Board would continue providing strategic oversight as the revenue authority worked to strengthen revenue administration, improve taxpayer services and increase voluntary compliance.
He said an honest and efficient tax administration was necessary to build trust, promote fairness and generate resources for national development.
“This year’s filing season comes at a time when domestic revenue mobilisation is more important than ever,” he said, adding that every accurate return and fulfilled tax obligation contributed towards public services, infrastructure and development programmes.
Dlamini also pointed to continued investment by the ERS in compliance measures and taxpayer services, saying these initiatives were important to maintaining the integrity and sustainability of the tax system.
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