ONGWEDIVA – The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) described its participation at the just-concluded Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) as a resounding success.
The success, according to Tonateni Shidhudhu, NamRA’s manager for communications and stakeholder engagements, is evidenced by the over 700 taxpayers they assisted during the exhibition.
Services included registration, tax return filing and addressing general inquiries related to customs and tax matters.
“Many young people approached NamRA’s stand without prior knowledge of tax registration certificates and their purpose. They urgently needed them as per Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) requirements – and some feared missing out on job opportunities,” Shidhudhu said, referring to those who were recently recruited by the NSA to conduct the upcoming population and housing census.
It is Shidhudhu’s view that the impressive turnout is a positive sign that people were eager to become tax-compliant.
He also expressed gratitude to the OATF’s organisers for their support, including providing extra chairs for clients and allowing them some extra time to assist the last person in line after closing hours.
On the downside, however, he noted that on some days, they had to close at 21h00 due to security personnel and hall cleaning requirements, which left some taxpayers unhappy.
Shidhudhu emphasised that NamRA’s regional office in Oshakati, as well as satellite offices in Omuthiya, Eenhana and Outapi continue to provide the same services every day, and people should not wait for the trade fair to seek assistance.
During the trade fair, NamRA also announced that five northern regions – Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati and Kunene north – owe the taxman a cumulative N$9.3 billion.
According to NamRA, a total of 35 031 debtors owe them that much.
The debt is made up of capital, penalties and interests, with capital debt standing at 23% [or N$1.55 billion].
In penalties, the regions’ debt is a staggering N$5.24 billion, while the interest is N$1.9 billion.
The information was released by NamRA’s northern region domestic taxes manager Willem Janzer.
“Many taxpayers are declaring and submitting zero returns. [But] some of them are even getting government tenders – and what they are submitting to NamRA is zero returns. How can someone who earns an income tell NamRA that ‘I did not make any money or that I did not make any trade?’ We encourage taxpayers to revise their returns and get the right amount of turnovers. Do not think we will not get hold of you. You should come forth yourself,” Janzer pleaded.
- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na