Terence Mukasa
As of 30 November 2021, 264 710 taxpayers owed the receiver of revenue over N$162 billion.
According to NamRA’s Tonateni Shidhudhu, the agency is currently running an Electronic Filing Tax Relief Programme to assist taxpayers in becoming tax compliant. He said the relief, which waives 100% of penalties and 75% of interest on the settlement of the capital overdue tax amount will expire on 31 January 2022.
Shidhudhu stated penalties of N$8 billion and interest of N$265 million were waived in favour of 23 008 enterprises and 11 683 individual taxpayers that participated in the programme between January and November 2021.
He noted over the past months, NamRA has seen a minor rise in the number of taxpayers visiting offices to enquire about the programme.
“However, given the amount of delinquent taxpayers, we advise people to take advantage of this chance to benefit from this relief programme and become tax compliant,” urged Shidhudhu.
He said the relief was born out of the idea of assisting taxpayers who found it difficult to settle their outstanding amounts, especially businesses that were affected by Covid-19.
“Some individual taxpayers were also finding it hard to clear their dues as the pandemic negatively affected the economy at all levels. The relief was introduced as a way to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the Namibian economy,” said Shidhudhu.
He added: “It is probably for the first time that a gesture of this nature is extended to our taxpayers and it is likely not to be repeated in the near future”.
The qualify for the relief programme, taxpayers must first file tax returns on ITAS and pay the capital amount, which is the actual amount owed, excluding interest and penalties.