Naloba pleads 24-month tax amnesty extension

The Namibia Local Business Association (Naloba) has asked for a 24-month extension of the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) tax amnesty programme, saying small businesses continue to face financial difficulties.“Many of these businesses currently generate little or no income and are therefore unable to settle the outstanding capital tax required to qualify for relief,” Naloba president Erastus Shapumba said.Shapumba said the programme, which ends on 31 October, had allowed many businesses and individuals to regularise their tax affairs. However, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges continued to be felt across many sectors, leaving businesses struggling to raise the money owed to Namra.Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had folded or stopped trading during and after the pandemic, he said, leaving them unable to settle their tax debts.The programme provides 100% relief from interest and penalties on unpaid tax, provided taxpayers settle their outstanding capital tax and submit all required returns.The association also raised concerns about the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on businesses, particularly farmers and other agricultural enterprises.Shapumba also pointed to limited access to finance, saying businesses hit by the outbreak were struggling to obtain bank loans and other funding to revive their operations.Without access to capital, he said, businesses could not resume trading, generate revenue and meet their tax obligations.Willing but not ableNaloba said SMEs were important contributors to local employment and household incomes and that many needed more time to rebuild their operations.Some taxpayers risked losing the benefits of the amnesty despite being willing to comply, Naloba said, adding that their main obstacle was financial inability rather than unwillingness to pay.It said the 24-month extension would allow taxpayers more time to submit outstanding returns and become compliant.Naloba argued that the extension could improve government revenue collection over time by enabling more taxpayers to settle their tax debts instead of remaining in arrears.-phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na

Naloba pleads 24-month tax amnesty extension

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-27

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Naloba pleads 24-month tax amnesty extension

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-27

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