BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
EZULWINI – Government has thrown its full support behind the newly launched TaxCore Electronic Invoicing Programme, describing it as a critical tool in strengthening revenue collection and building a fairer tax system in Eswatini.
Speaking during the launch of the system on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) headquarters in Ezulwini, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said government remained committed to supporting initiatives aimed at improving tax compliance and sealing revenue leakages.
Present during the launch were Members of Parliament from both the Senate and House of Assembly, ERS executives, representatives of the business community, captains of industry, representatives of Data Technical International and members of the media.
The Minister said the country could no longer afford to lose billions of Emalangeni through underreporting, non-filing, suppressed sales and other forms of tax evasion while the demand for public services continued to rise.
“Government stands firmly behind the introduction of the Electronic Invoicing System because the need is clear,” he said.
The minister said the introduction of TaxCore marked an important step in the modernisation of tax administration in Eswatini, adding that the system would support the ERS in strengthening compliance, improving revenue collection and enhancing transparency.
He noted that government continued to face growing pressure to fund key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, public safety and social protection.
“To fund these national priorities, we need a strong, reliable and sustainable revenue base,” he said.
Neal revealed that a recent tax gap study estimated that Eswatini was losing approximately E4.259 billion in tax revenue due to non-compliance, underreporting, underpayment and deliberate tax evasion.
He said the TaxCore system would help close this gap by enabling business transactions to be digitally recorded and securely transmitted to the ERS in real time.
According to the minister, the current VAT and income tax reporting environment still relied heavily on manual processes and self-declaration, creating opportunities for manipulation and inaccurate reporting.
He said the electronic invoicing system would strengthen audit trails, improve transaction reliability and allow quicker detection of non-compliance.
“The technology will move tax administration from delayed detection to real-time and data-driven compliance management,” he said.
Hon. Neal Rijkenberg further stressed that the system was not intended to punish compliant taxpayers, but rather to simplify compliance and create a level playing field for businesses.
He urged businesses, tax practitioners and stakeholders to work closely with the ERS during the implementation phase by preparing their systems and engaging constructively in the process.
The minister also thanked Data Technical International for partnering with the ERS in introducing the solution.
He commended the ERS Board and management for embracing innovation and demonstrating commitment towards building a modern and efficient revenue administration system.
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