Tax in Namibia

Who is the tax authority and where do filings live?

Namibia's Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) under the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises administers Namibia's tax system [SC1]. NamRA was established under NamRA Act 12 of 2017 (effective April 2021) replacing prior Inland Revenue Department. Substantive law: Income Tax Act 24 of 1981, VAT Act 10 of 2000, Petroleum (Taxation) Act 3 of 1991, and successive amendments. Namibia is a SADC, SACU, and AfCFTA member.

What is the tax year and when are returns due?

Individual tax year ends 28 February. Personal returns due 30 June for prior tax year [SC1]. Corporate annual returns due 7 months after fiscal year-end. VAT bi-monthly returns. Provisional CIT through 1st/2nd Provisional Payment regime.

Who is a Namibian tax resident?

Under Income Tax Act, an individual is tax resident if (a) ordinarily resident in Namibia, OR (b) physically present 91+ days in tax year (low threshold) [SC2]. Residents taxed on Namibia-source income (territorial framework predominantly).

What are the personal income tax rates?

Progressive PIT brackets post-2024 reform: 0 percent up to NAD 100,000; ascending rates 18/25/28/30/32/37 percent ascending [SC1]. Top 37 percent above NAD 1,500,000. Personal allowance NAD 100,000.

How does Namibia's corporate tax work?

CIT 28 percent flat for resident companies post-2024 reduction (was 32 percent through fiscal year ending February 2024) [SC2]. Mining 30 percent (general); 35 percent for diamond mining; 33 percent for oil/gas under Petroleum (Taxation) Act 3 of 1991. Withholding on dividends to non-residents 10 percent (15 percent if applicable). Pillar Two not yet transposed. Tax losses indefinite carryforward.

What about VAT?

VAT 15 percent under VAT Act 10 of 2000 [SC3]. Zero-rated on exports.

How are cryptoassets taxed?

Bank of Namibia advisory: cryptoassets restricted [SC2]. Where declared, gains under existing income-tax categories.

What is the treaty network and what are the audit triggers?

Namibia has approximately 11 active double tax treaties [SC4]. MLI signed but not yet ratified. SADC and SACU frameworks. Standard SOL 5 years; extended for fraud or for mining/petroleum-sector matters.

What are the common penalties and pitfalls for foreigners?

Penalty framework: late filings, failure to file, incorrect declarations [SC5]. Common pitfalls: (1) diamond and uranium-sector elevated framework with sector-specific rates (35 percent diamond mining; 30 percent general mining); (2) post-2024 emerging oil/gas framework under Petroleum (Taxation) Act 3 of 1991 with major Orange Basin discoveries; (3) NamRA Act 12 of 2017 (effective April 2021) consolidated tax administration; (4) low 91-day residency threshold; (5) tax year ending 28 February (Commonwealth-Africa pattern); (6) Pillar Two not yet transposed; (7) modest treaty network (11 DTCs); (8) MLI signed but not yet ratified; (9) anglophone tradition; (10) AfCFTA member; (11) parallel SADC/SACU framework membership; (12) NAD-denominated tax base with rand-pegged Namibian dollar.