WITH more than 86 000 taxpayers now registered to file their annual tax returns online, 75 600 have already submitted their returns, six months after the digital platform was launched.
Tax officials at the Ministry of Finance revealed the above to yesterday, saying the numbers keep on growing.
The new system, known as the Integrated Tax Administration System (Itas), was launched on 17 January 2019, and replaces the former tax live system to combine the customs and excise and inland revenue departments’ taxpayers’ information.
The system makes tax services accessible 24 hours a day, and ensures that taxpayers submit their tax information in the most convenient way possible, as well as do away with long queues on deadline day.
Before the system was available, taxpayers had to submit their returns at all inland revenue offices and magistrate’s courts countrywide.
While some are comfortable with submitting returns at their convenience, others are still finding the technology challenging.
Opuwo resident Oiva Hamunyela said although he was having difficulties with submitting the returns, it was better that he could work out his tax obligation at his desk and easily submit returns.
“There are a few glitches, but it’s better than those queues we normally stand in,” he expressed.
For those who are yet to submit their tax returns, taxation officers said they can still submit their returns the old way, and submit their returns next year when they get to know the new system better.
Tax partner at auditing firm SGA, Carolien Matthee told last month that it was not the employer’s responsibility to ensure that employees submit their income tax returns.
“Each taxpayer is responsible for the submission of his or her own income tax returns,” she said.
Matthee added that should a taxpayer not submit their returns on time and the taxpayer has a liability, Inland Revenue charges 10% penalty for late submissions, and 20% interest per annum on the tax due.
She explained that all salaried employees who earned an income of N$50 000 or higher for the period 1 March 2018 to 28 February 2019, and who are registered as a taxpayer with the ministry of finance, were obliged to submit their income tax returns by 30 June 2019.
Chief economist and acting Financial Literacy Initiative secretariat manager, Iyaloo Ailonga said submitting a tax return is a law and is compulsory for all income earners, adding that the government collects taxes to provide services to places such as public schools, public health care, police and other services of public importance.
Taxpayers unable to submit their returns are urged to read the instructions manual on the ITAS website, or visit their nearest inland revenue office for assistance.
– Email: lazarus@namibian.com.na – Twitter: Lasarus_A
