Maihapa Ndjavera

Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner Sam Shivute has warned companies and individuals involved in deliberately avoiding their true tax liabilities to expect a visit from his officials soon.

“There are those companies that give donations, to paint a good image in the public but in actual sense, they are culprits of tax evasion. When we look at our systems they are stealing and defrauding the value-added tax (VAT). My colleagues will be paying special attention to that and that has to stop,” Shivute warned last week at NamRA’s second taxpayer/trader appreciation day in Windhoek.

He added there are companies claiming to be making losses since independence while operating in lucrative industries. Shivute noted the mentioned companies are further paying their employees below the taxable thresholds.

The commissioner further urged Namibians to be compliant, noting that Namibians have the responsibility to contribute to domestic resource mobilisation, to achieve economic emancipation and independence.

Appreciation day

The day was held under the theme ‘Taxes and Duties Build Namibia’. The day is intended to promote voluntary compliance and enhance tax morale by recognising and appreciating compliant taxpayers and traders who continue to conform to the relevant laws administered by NamRA.

De Beers Marine Namibia Pty Ltd was the company of the night, as it was awarded for being the highest contributor to employees’ tax, the highest contributor to corporate income tax, the highest contributor to value-added tax, the highest contributor to non-resident shareholders’ tax, and the overall top tax contributor in the category of domestic taxes.

The company made a significant contribution amounting to N$4.2 billion last year.

There were also special awards to the highest revenue contributors, a corporate social initiative award for a charity of choice for N$20 000.

In the category of customs and excise, Anheuser Bush InBev Namibia Breweries (Pty) Ltd was awarded.