NamRA Collects N$3.4 Million from Whistleblower Reports on Tax Evasion

The Namibia Revenue Agency has collected N$3.4 million through a whistleblower hotline, enhancing tax compliance and addressing corruption. The initiative, managed by Deloitte Namibia, received 60 reports highlighting concerns like fraud and money laundering. NamRA encourages public engagement while ensuring anonymity and confidentiality for whistleblowers.

The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has successfully generated N$3.4 million in revenue through its whistleblower hotline, demonstrating the initiative’s effectiveness in addressing tax evasion and related illicit activities. The hotline, which was officially launched in 2023 and became fully operational in May 2024 under the management of Deloitte Namibia, has emerged as a crucial resource for enhancing transparency and accountability in the tax system.

To date, the hotline has received 60 reports concerning various serious issues such as fraud, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, drug trafficking, and unethical practices. Yarukeekuro Steven Ndorokaze, NamRA’s Chief of Strategic Communications, indicated that this initiative has resulted in an impressive N$15.8 million in assessments, with N$3.4 million collected from three companies in November and December 2024 alone.

According to Ndorokaze, “This milestone underscores the hotline’s effectiveness in serving as a platform for promoting compliance, ethical governance, and responsible tax administration.” He emphasized NamRA’s commitment to enhancing tax compliance and encouraged taxpayers and stakeholders to actively utilize the whistleblower hotline to contribute to this effort.

Furthermore, Ndorokaze stated that whistleblower protection is taken seriously, as all reports are handled with utmost confidentiality. Individuals can report any suspicious activities anonymously and without the fear of retaliation through several channels including a toll-free number (0800 535 777), email ([email protected]), and the website (www.tip-offs.com).

In conclusion, the Namibia Revenue Agency’s whistleblower hotline has proven to be an effective mechanism in promoting tax compliance while yielding significant revenue recovery. The initiative supports transparency and accountability, encouraging public participation in maintaining the integrity of Namibia’s tax system. Furthermore, the stringent confidentiality protections foster a safe environment for whistleblowers to report illicit activities.

Original Source: economist.com.na