Windhoek
In a rather ironic turn of events, preliminary tax payers will have to scramble this weekend to make the looming deadline of February 29 for their tax returns after it transpired that tax return forms will probably only be available by tomorrow, following a glitch that resulted in the forms not being printed on time.
The mishap with the tax return forms at the Ministry of Finance was confirmed yesterday as Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein made his budget announcement in parliament and resulted in many an angry and frustrated businessman/woman.
Confirming the glitch, Commissioner of Revenue and national chief of the Office of the Receiver of Revenue Justice Mafongwe told New Era that a delay of the timely printing and delivery of the return forms was experienced by the agent responsible for the printing. He, however, said the Office of the Receiver of Revenue has been promised that the forms will be available “by the end of the week.”
All businesses owners, farmers and other companies whose tax year closes on February 29, must hand in their tax returns by coming Monday, and pay preliminary tax based on their projected income for the financial year.
The absence of tax return forms for preliminary tax payments resulted in the Office of the Receiver of Revenue making blank forms available at their offices that can be obtained and completed and handed in with payment of tax at the latest coming Monday. But various farmers and business people yesterday complained that they do not know how to complete the blank forms. Thus the forms have created more frustration as time is running out for the February 29 deadline.
If business owners and farmers do not pay their preliminary tax by Monday, they face a penalty of N$100 per day for every day the payment is outstanding, and an additional fine of ten percent on the outstanding amount for every month the payment is late. On top of that, interest of 20 percent will be charged on the outstanding amount.