Fishing industry rebuts NamRa’s tax evasion claims
Shivute bemoans industry’s low taxes
According to a revenue breakdown, total taxes paid over by various industries stood at N$15 billion. The fishing industry's contribution to this total stood at a lowly 1%.
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) has dismissed reports that it does not pay its fair share of taxes to government, following suggestions by the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) that the industry is not playing its part.
NamRa commissioner Sam Shivite - during a recent visit to State House to update President Hage Geingob on the work done by the tax agency - bemoaned the low taxes paid by the fishing industry.
“Despite it [fishing sector] being considered one of the top five export sectors for Namibia, looking at the sector’s contribution, it is not even N$1 billion. It cannot be. We need to pay special attention to this sector,” he was quoted as saying.
According to a revenue breakdown, total taxes paid over by various industries stood at N$15 billion.
The retail sector contributed 29% of the total revenue, the financial sector 27% and the mining sector 22%, while the manufacturing sector contributed 13%.
Conversely, the fishing industry’s contribution stood at a lowly 1%.
Consult us
Taking issue with Shivute’s statement, the association’s secretary Ron Wolters said NamRa should consult with the industry before accusing it of not paying taxes.
“It is with great concern to the industry that NamRa made such a statement while it did not find it necessary to consult with the CNFA to understand the industry’s operations, to discuss its concerns and to find answers to its questions,” he said.
According to him, the industry makes additional payments into state coffers apart from its obligatory tax dues.
“There are a multitude of statutory payments made by the industry to the government such as the quota levy, the Marine Resources Fund levy, the Fisheries Observer Agency levy, the Namibia Training Authority levy, the export levy, the Namibia Standards Institute levy and the Marine By-Catch levy,” he said.
“The fishing industry - through CNFA - stands ready to engage NamRa to clarify the situation concerning the industry’s contribution to the fiscus and also its economic contribution to Namibia,” Wolters added.
NamRa commissioner Sam Shivite - during a recent visit to State House to update President Hage Geingob on the work done by the tax agency - bemoaned the low taxes paid by the fishing industry.
“Despite it [fishing sector] being considered one of the top five export sectors for Namibia, looking at the sector’s contribution, it is not even N$1 billion. It cannot be. We need to pay special attention to this sector,” he was quoted as saying.
According to a revenue breakdown, total taxes paid over by various industries stood at N$15 billion.
The retail sector contributed 29% of the total revenue, the financial sector 27% and the mining sector 22%, while the manufacturing sector contributed 13%.
Conversely, the fishing industry’s contribution stood at a lowly 1%.
Consult us
Taking issue with Shivute’s statement, the association’s secretary Ron Wolters said NamRa should consult with the industry before accusing it of not paying taxes.
“It is with great concern to the industry that NamRa made such a statement while it did not find it necessary to consult with the CNFA to understand the industry’s operations, to discuss its concerns and to find answers to its questions,” he said.
According to him, the industry makes additional payments into state coffers apart from its obligatory tax dues.
“There are a multitude of statutory payments made by the industry to the government such as the quota levy, the Marine Resources Fund levy, the Fisheries Observer Agency levy, the Namibia Training Authority levy, the export levy, the Namibia Standards Institute levy and the Marine By-Catch levy,” he said.
“The fishing industry - through CNFA - stands ready to engage NamRa to clarify the situation concerning the industry’s contribution to the fiscus and also its economic contribution to Namibia,” Wolters added.
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