RSL Hosts Successful Tax and Customs Symposium for Southern Region in Mohale’s Hoek

Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) held a successful Tax and Customs Symposium for the Southern Region on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, in Mohale’s Hoek. The event brought together key stakeholders, including business owners, traders, and customs officials, to discuss critical issues affecting the region’s tax and trade environment.

The symposium created an open platform for dialogue and collaboration between RSL and the business community. It focused on improving understanding of tax and customs procedures while promoting transparency and voluntary compliance.

The day featured several detailed presentations on topics central to trade facilitation and business growth. Experts from RSL unpacked the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme for Retailers, Trade Agreements and Rules of Origin, and Border Procedures and Processes. Each session aimed to clarify regulations and remove uncertainty for businesses navigating cross-border and domestic trade.

Participants actively engaged with presenters, raising questions about how new systems and regulations apply to their operations. Many attendees welcomed the initiative, noting that the symposium provided an opportunity to better understand RSL processes and strengthen cooperation with the institution.

In a practical display of its commitment to accessible service delivery, RSL deployed a Mobile Office at the symposium venue. The unit allowed participants to immediately address tax-related concerns, register for services, and receive on-the-spot assistance from RSL officers.

One of the major highlights at the Mobile Office was the demonstration of the new Online Refunds Application platform, launched on 21 October 2025. Officers guided participants through the new digital system, showing how it simplifies the process of claiming tax refunds. The platform supports RSL’s goal of achieving 95% operational efficiency by reducing paperwork and improving turnaround times for clients.

In her closing remarks, Deputy Commissioner for Frontier Services South, Ms. Lieketseng Lipholo, emphasized the importance of continued engagement between RSL and taxpayers. She noted that direct interaction helps build trust, promote compliance, and ensure that the business community remains informed about changing tax and customs requirements.

Ms. Lipholo added that such stakeholder events play a vital role in raising awareness and addressing real challenges faced by traders and business owners in the Southern Region.

RSL hopes that the knowledge gained during the symposium will translate into better business practices and improved compliance. The institution believes that enhanced cooperation with the private sector will contribute to stronger economic growth for both the Southern Region and Lesotho as a whole.

The symposium reaffirmed RSL’s commitment to transparent communication, innovation, and service excellence in its ongoing efforts to modernize tax administration and support sustainable national development.