The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has launched a temporary service centre in Katutura at the Soweto Market to bring tax and customs-related services closer to residents.
The decision follows a survey indicating that more than 50% of visitors to NamRA’s dedicated service centre in the last quarter of 2024 originated from Katutura.
NamRA’s Chief Strategic Communications and Support Engagements Officer, Yarukeekuro Steven Ndorokaze, said the centre will provide essential services such as taxpayer registration, good standing certificate issuance and assistance with tax return filing.
“There are many other things that we do, from your tax-related queries to your customs and excise-related queries. But they are very limited. If you want to have your audit done, you will not be able to do it. But if you want to register as a taxpayer, we will be able to register you here,” said Ndorokaze.
Ndorokaze highlighted that the centre would not handle complex customs clearance procedures but would assist in providing information on customs procedures and processing updates on goods in NamRA’s possession.
The centre will operate from Monday to Friday, 08h00 to 17h00, for a six-month trial period. Ndorokaze noted that the pop-up nature of the facility means it is not a permanent arrangement but rather an interim measure to gauge demand and improve service accessibility.
He noted that data from NamRA’s service centre showed that in October and November 2024, nearly 8,000 people sought assistance each month.
“However, in December, the number declined to around 3,000 due to the holiday season. The data further indicated that more than half of these visitors came from Katutura, prompting the decision to bring services closer to the community,” he said.
Ndorokaze noted that NamRA will assess the centre’s effectiveness over the six-month period before determining the next steps for extending services to other locations.
He also reminded taxpayers about the upcoming tax return submission window, which closes at the end of June 2025.
“We do not want people to wait until the end of June and talk to us about the possibilities of extension. Our message now is to say, as the tax year draws to a close, please ensure that you file on time,” he stated.
He reiterated NamRA’s three-pronged approach: raising awareness about tax obligations, making compliance easier, and offering multiple options for engagement.
“Ease of compliance is about establishing centres like this so that wherever you are, you can be assisted. You can also use our online reporter service, call centre, or email support instead of visiting in person,” he said.
