Namibians divided about tax
Namibia has fewer than 800 000 registered taxpayers out of a population of 2.5 million.
More than half of Namibians are in favour of higher taxes to fund more government services, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey. Responses to a series of survey questions on taxation by Afrobarometer indicate that only about one-third of Namibians are unhappy about tax rates – but they are the ones who actually pay tax. The finance ministry said last year that Namibia had fewer than 800 000 registered taxpayers out of a population of 2.5 million.
“The majority of Namibians do not want the government to emphasise tax collection among small traders and informal businesses, consider it fair to tax the wealthy to help the poor, and think the government generally uses tax revenues to benefit the population,” the survey showed. According to Afrobarometer, 51% of Namibians are in favour of paying higher taxes, if it means more government services. “But 38% would prefer lower taxes even if it means fewer government services, while Namibians who actually pay income tax are less supportive of higher taxes than those who do not pay income taxes.” The survey further indicated that only 29% of Namibians say it is easy to find out what taxes and fees they are supposed to pay to the government, while 50% find it difficult and 21% say they do not know. According to the survey, respondents who pay income tax are twice as likely to say it is easy (48%) as those who do not pay income tax (24%). “This suggests that experience with the tax system makes an important difference in understanding how it works.”
The survey also noted that more Namibians think ordinary people are taxed too much (36%) and rich people are taxed too little (32%). A mere 12% of Namibians think that ordinary people are not taxed too much, while 17% think rich people are not taxed too little. “But more than half of respondents have no complaint about tax rates, saying either that the amounts are about right or that they do not know.” According to the survey 31% of Namibians want the government to make sure that small traders and other people working in the informal sector pay taxes for their businesses. At the same time 59% of Namibians agree or strongly agree that it is fair to tax rich people at higher rates than ordinary people, to help pay for government programmes to benefit the poor. Also, 54% of Namibians believe that the government usually uses the taxes it collects for the well-being of the population. The survey showed that 32% of Namibians say citizens often or always avoid paying taxes they owe. “About half (48%) say this happens rarely or never, while 20% say they do not know whether this happens.” Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on Africans' experiences and evaluations of quality of life, governance and democracy.
ELLANIE SMIT
“The majority of Namibians do not want the government to emphasise tax collection among small traders and informal businesses, consider it fair to tax the wealthy to help the poor, and think the government generally uses tax revenues to benefit the population,” the survey showed. According to Afrobarometer, 51% of Namibians are in favour of paying higher taxes, if it means more government services. “But 38% would prefer lower taxes even if it means fewer government services, while Namibians who actually pay income tax are less supportive of higher taxes than those who do not pay income taxes.” The survey further indicated that only 29% of Namibians say it is easy to find out what taxes and fees they are supposed to pay to the government, while 50% find it difficult and 21% say they do not know. According to the survey, respondents who pay income tax are twice as likely to say it is easy (48%) as those who do not pay income tax (24%). “This suggests that experience with the tax system makes an important difference in understanding how it works.”
The survey also noted that more Namibians think ordinary people are taxed too much (36%) and rich people are taxed too little (32%). A mere 12% of Namibians think that ordinary people are not taxed too much, while 17% think rich people are not taxed too little. “But more than half of respondents have no complaint about tax rates, saying either that the amounts are about right or that they do not know.” According to the survey 31% of Namibians want the government to make sure that small traders and other people working in the informal sector pay taxes for their businesses. At the same time 59% of Namibians agree or strongly agree that it is fair to tax rich people at higher rates than ordinary people, to help pay for government programmes to benefit the poor. Also, 54% of Namibians believe that the government usually uses the taxes it collects for the well-being of the population. The survey showed that 32% of Namibians say citizens often or always avoid paying taxes they owe. “About half (48%) say this happens rarely or never, while 20% say they do not know whether this happens.” Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on Africans' experiences and evaluations of quality of life, governance and democracy.
ELLANIE SMIT
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