4 746 tax payers under NamRa scrutiny
N$36 mln linked to scam
Several individuals and institutions had been identified as benefiting from the scam.
The Namibia Revenue Agency is investigating 4 746 tax payers who have received tax refunds following the lifting of the moratorium on payment of tax refunds. The agency noted that several individuals had been able to claim refunds while not qualifying for these refunds to be paid, its commissioner Sam Shivute said.
“Our records indicate that by 28 February 2022, 43 166 natural persons were registered as provisional tax payers, being a person deriving any amount as income which does not constitute remuneration. From March 2018 to February 2022, only 6 268 of these tax payers claimed and received tax refunds for the different types of taxes, being worth more than N$950 million,” Shivute said.
“Of the stated amount, N$496 million in respect of income tax refunds paid was paid to 4 746 taxpayers. This group of taxpayers remains the subject of the continuing investigation, which in some instances has been concluded and criminal cases have ben ledged with the Namibian Police,” he added.
BENEFITTING
According to him, several individuals and institutions had been identified as benefiting from the scam.
“At this point, we can indicate that the tax refund claims of over N$36 million is linked to this scam and is expected to increase further. 409 tax payers from 17 institutions have so far been identified as recipients of fraudulently claimed tax refunds,” he said.
Shivute said NamRa will invoke section 91 of the Income Tax Act to recover paid refunds where the facts show no basis for such claims, by appointing financial institutions and employers as agents to collect such amounts.
The agency called on members of the public to come forward with any information related to the scam.
“We reiterate our call on all tax payers who might have unwittingly benefited from this scam to engage our office and aid the investigation to expose the true masterminds of this scam,” he said.