Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner Sam Shivute said engaging taxpayers is assisting the entity in a great way to identify challenges existing to streamline the smooth delivery of services.
Speaking during a stakeholders engagement in Keetmanshoop last week, he said “NamRA as an institution is in its infant stages, and thus needs to be strengthened by you as taxpayers and our main customers in order to fulfill its mandate”.
Shivute also visited the tax, customs and excise offices in the region to engage with staff.
“We familiarised ourselves with their working environment to determine if it is conducive, as poor working conditions most of the time lead to poor service delivery,” he added.
He said it has been observed in 2015 that Namibia, along with two other countries in Africa, were the only ones not having a semi-autonomous body responsible for tax administration and collection, hence the reason to pass a law to establish NamRA accordingly.
“It is thus our core function to collect revenue and administer tax, customs and excise laws applicable in Namibia,’’ reiterated Shivute. Explaining the six strategic objectives of the entity, he said through voluntary compliance, taxpayers can bring about a collaborative approach. “Another NamRA objective is that of optimising government’s revenue basis since they (government) are left with no choice but to borrow money if not having sufficient income to provide the needed services to its citizens,” he emphasised.
Shivute observed that the enhancement of trade facilitation is another major objective, whereby a footprint should be placed in all regions of the country for border officials to ensure all goods entering and leaving Namibia are recorded accordingly, and all duties attached to it are paid.
//Kharas governor Aletha Frederick regarded the payment of taxes as critical for national development and improving the livelihood of citizens.
She said NamRA is mandated with the very critical task of collecting revenue through taxes and customs duties that are a great enabler for development. “Stakeholder engagement sessions by public institutions are very important for our people, as they create a mutual understanding between an institution and its stakeholders,” Frederick stressed.
She also reasoned that government and the private sector will only be able to create job opportunities when the nation is committed to its tax obligations.
“There is no doubt that taxes increase government revenue to be able to come up with public procurement or tenders in which our local business people can participate,” she added.
Namibia has 806 294 registered taxpayers on the NamRA database, with 263 226 not complying with tax laws and regulations.
Caption
Serve with passion… Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner Sam Shivute.
Photo: Steven Klukowski