Ministry of Finance opens regional office at Keetmanshoop

A REGIONAL Inland Revenue office which has created 88 jobs was opened at Keetmanshoop on Friday.

It will deal with tax assessments, recovery of outstanding taxes, audits, inspections and refunds and will serve taxpayers in the Hardap and Karas regions. The office is not yet fully staffed and currently only receives payments and deals with tax queries.In her message, Finance Minister Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the opening of the office was part of Government’s programme to improve service delivery and administration of taxes.”With revenue offices decentralised to the regions, the public has easy access to the tax offices and they can have their tax issues dealt with without incurring unnecessary high costs of long-distance travel and telephone calls,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.Six regional Inland Revenue offices have been built – at Rundu, Ondangwa, Keetmanshoop, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay and in Windhoek.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the 88 new jobs would boost the economy of Keetmanshoop.She also implored taxpayers to honour their tax responsibilities.”Taxes provide revenue for the State to cover the cost of providing services to the people of Namibia as well as for the development of infrastructure needed to promote development,” she said.The Minister warned that tax evaders would face the wrath of the law.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also urged the regional office staff to maintain high standards of integrity.Also speaking at the event, Karas Governor Dawid Boois said developments such as the opening of the Inland Revenue office gave much-needed impetus to regional economic growth.The office is not yet fully staffed and currently only receives payments and deals with tax queries.In her message, Finance Minister Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the opening of the office was part of Government’s programme to improve service delivery and administration of taxes.”With revenue offices decentralised to the regions, the public has easy access to the tax offices and they can have their tax issues dealt with without incurring unnecessary high costs of long-distance travel and telephone calls,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.Six regional Inland Revenue offices have been built – at Rundu, Ondangwa, Keetmanshoop, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay and in Windhoek.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the 88 new jobs would boost the economy of Keetmanshoop.She also implored taxpayers to honour their tax responsibilities.”Taxes provide revenue for the State to cover the cost of providing services to the people of Namibia as well as for the development of infrastructure needed to promote development,” she said.The Minister warned that tax evaders would face the wrath of the law.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also urged the regional office staff to maintain high standards of integrity.Also speaking at the event, Karas Governor Dawid Boois said developments such as the opening of the Inland Revenue office gave much-needed impetus to regional economic growth.