Namra launches pop-up centre as tax year comes to close

As the tax year draws to a close at the end of February, all Namibians have been advised to submit their tax returns within the submission window closing at the end of June.

Steven Ndorokaze, Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) spokesperson, shared this while addressing the media at the agency’s pop-up centre at Soweto Market in Katutura on Tuesday.

“As people become aware of their obligations – whether customs or tax-related – the next thing is to ensure compliance,” he said.

“This is where this pop-up centre comes in, as part of a three-pronged approached adopted by Namra to help its clients to be compliant,” Ndorokaze said.

He added that taxpayers also have the option of using Namra’s online portal. “You do not need to come and engage us but can, at your convenience, use the facility wherever you are.”

“You can also make use of our call centre, that is making progress in assisting members of the public or use the email to communicate with the revenue authority.”

Ndorokaze said the decision to set up the pop-up centre was to improve accessibility; with research showing over half of the visitors to Namra’s service centre in Windhoek’s central business district came from Katutura.

“We had a survey of about 8 000 people who visited our service centre in October last year, another 8 000 in November and about 3 000 in December, and 50% of these people came from Katutura. They will no longer have to go to town for our services,” he said.

Ndorokoze said while the centre has limited scope, it can address simple issues regarding tax and customs and excise matters.

“If there are ‘order with me’ people who want to track progress on their goods in our possession, they can come to this centre and they will be assisted. People can know what to bring into the country, what the customs procedures are,” he added.

The office, staffed with six officers, will operate from Monday to Friday, from 08h00 to 17h00, he said.

However, he noted that the centre is an interim arrangement to be tested for six months, after which its impact will be reviewed.

He expressed appreciation to the City of Windhoek for making the facility available for Namra’s use.

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