NamRA Tax Amnesty Extension
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TAX PAYERS REQUEST FOR TAX INCENTIVE EXTENSION
We, the Namibian tax payer community call upon the Minister of Finance and NamRA to consider an extension on the Tax Amnesty program
Revisions and audits which has a direct impact on the outcome of a tax payers tax amnesty registration, are still pending. Some requests are dated back 4-5 years already.
Reasons for extension:
- Revisions are still ongoing due to a large amount of returns to be revised by NamRA officials. The delay is not on the tax payers side, it is on NamRA’s side due to insufficient planning systems, limited officials and inadequate customer feedback. Most revisions are a result of ETX data not captured or assessed correctly on the ITAS system.
- ETX data of some employers are still incorrect or missing. Either these employers do not intend to or know how to revise ETX data. Nor do they want to contract professional services for assistance. These employers do not respond to employees requests and NamRA does not have an enforcement policy in place to assist tax payers with uncooperative employers.
- PAYE5 certificates lost or not provided by some employers. These employers do not respond to employees’ requests which results in the tax payer not able to submit outstanding returns. NamRA does not have an enforcement policy in place to assist tax payers with uncooperative employers.
- Audits on returns are still pending due to the large amount of audits to be done. Approved revisions are automatically converted to “to be audited” returns. Audits are delayed due to limited officials, inadequate customer feedback or time constraints on NamRA’s side.
Solutions for future:
- Tax payers do not have a direct communication line with the revision, audit or recoveries departments. Phone calls and emails are not answered. Contact details of all officials with tax number section range allocated to them should be published and updated on a regular basis on the website.
- Tax payers are treated or spoken to as if NamRA officials have the higher power. They probably do but they are still required by law to deliver an efficient and respectful customer service.
- Tax payers should be assisted at and by ANY NamRA office irrespective of where the file is registered and located
- NamRA does not have clear and precise procedures in place on revisions and audits. The procedures are changed on a regular basis and not communicated with tax payers. NamRA should implement a nationwide detailed standard procedure on revisions and audits for all offices and departments. Publish a step-by-step guide on the website and communicate any changes immediately through to tax payers.
- Audit requirements and practice notes on all income and expense declarations and claims should also be published on the website and communicated with tax payers to ensure accurate and correctness of submissions, to avoid unnecessary tax queries and revisions.
- NamRA should implement a CRM system where all calls, emails and queries are logged with a specific case number and responsible NamRA official contact details.
- ITAS features to be added:
- Audit meeting and date booking request
- Payment allocation request
- Other queries request
- Tax advice help centre
- Legal advice help centre on tax objections
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