Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 (GG 2337) brought into force on 27 November 2000 by GN 220/2000 (GG 2402) as amended by Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 34 of 2000 (GG 2465) deemed to have come into force on the date of commencement of the primary Act (section 34 of Act 34 of 2000) Government Notice 54 of 2002 (GG 2717) came into force on date of publication: 2 April 2002; made tariff changes to Schedule II under the authority of paragraph 3 of that Schedule (Schedule II was subsequently repealed by Act 6 of 2002) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 6 of 2002 (GG 2818) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 November 2002 (section 15 of Act 6 of 2002) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 12 of 2004 (GG 3282) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 October 2004 (section 11 of Act 12 of 2004), except for sections 1 and 2 which are deemed to have come into operation on 1 October 2002, section 4 which is deemed to have come into operation on 28 November 2002, and section 10 to the extent that it relates to subparagraph (o) of paragraph 2 of Schedule V, which is deemed to have come into operation on 1 April 2004 (section 11 of Act 12 of 2004) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 2 of 2007 (GG 3874) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 August 2007, except for section 2 which is deemed to have come into force on 27 November 2000 (section 7 of Act 2 of 2007) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 4 of 2008 (GG 4084) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 August 2008 (section 2 of Act 4 of 2008) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 4 of 2010 (GG 4474) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 May 2010 (section 8 of Act 4 of 2010) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 11 of 2011 (GG 4860) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 January 2012 (section 5 of Act 11 of 2011) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 12 of 2015 (GG 5911) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 January 2016 (section 5 of Act 12 of 2015) Value-Added Tax Amendment Act 14 of 2022 (GG 7993) came into force on the first day of the month following the month of publication, which made it effective on 1 January 2023 (section 10 of Act 14 of 2022) The Act is also amended by the Abolition of Payment by Cheque Act 16 of 2022 (GG 7995). However, that Act has not yet been brought into force, so the amendments made by it are not reflected here. Republic of Namibia 2 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 ACT To provide for the imposition and collection of value-added tax and to provide for matters incidental thereto. (Signed by the President on 10 May 2000) ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS Section 1. Definitions 2. Open market value 3. Supply 4. Taxable activity 5. Act to bind State PART II IMPOSITION OF VALUE-ADDED TAX 6. Imposition of value-added tax PART III PROVISIONS RELATING TO SUPPLIES 7. Time of supply 8. Value of supply 9. Zero rating 10. Exempt supply PART IV PROVISIONS RELATING TO IMPORTS 11. Time of import 12. Value of import 13. Exempt import 14. Import declaration and payment of tax PART V REGISTRATION 15. Registration 16. Application for registration 17. Cancellation of registration Republic of Namibia 3 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 PART VI CALCULATION OF TAX PAYABLE 18. Calculation of tax payable by registered person for a tax period 19. Rules relating to input tax 20. Post-sale adjustments 21. Tax invoices 22. Tax credit notes and tax debit notes PART VII TAX PERIOD, RETURNS AND ASSESSMENTS 23. Tax period 24. Returns 25. Assessments 26. General provisions relating to assessments PART VIII OBJECTIONS AND APPEALS 27. Objections 28. Appeals 29. Burden of proof PART IX COLLECTION AND RECOVERY 30. Due date for payment of tax 31. Tax as a debt due to the State 32. Security 33. Preferential claim to assets 34. Seizure of goods 35. Recovery of tax from recipient of supply 36. Recovery of tax from third parties 37. Duties of receivers 37A. Liability of shareholders for tax debts [Section 37A is inserted by Act 12 of 2015.] PART X REFUND OF TAX AND TAX RELIEF 38. Refund of tax 39. Interest on delayed refunds 40. Tax relief allowable to certain diplomats, diplomatic and consular missions and public international organisations, and in respect of certain technical assistance agreements PART XI REPRESENTATIVES 41. Persons acting in a representative capacity 42. Power to appoint agent PART XII Republic of Namibia 4 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 SPECIAL MATTERS 43. Branches and divisions 44. Bodies of persons (other than incorporated companies) 45. Death or insolvency of, or property mortgaged by, registered person 46. Trustee 46A. Agents and auctioneers [Section 46A is inserted by Act 2 of 2007.] PART XIII RECORDS AND INVESTIGATION POWERS 47. Interpretation 48. Record-keeping 49. Access to records and computers 50. Notice to obtain information or evidence 51. Records not in English language PART XIV VAT REGISTRATION NUMBER 52. VAT registration number PART XV INTEREST, OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 53. Interest 54. Offences relating to registration and tax period 55. Offences relating to tax invoices, tax credit notes, tax debit notes and exemption certificates 56. Failure to furnish returns, import declarations or other documents 57. Failure to comply with recovery provisions 58. Failure to maintain proper records 59. Failure to comply with demand or provide reasonable assistance [The heading of section 59 is substituted by Act 34 of 2000.] 60. Failure to comply with a section 50 notice 61. Improper use of VAT registration number and VAT import accounts [The heading of section 61 is amended by Act 12 of 2015.] 62. False or misleading statements 63. Obstructing taxation officers 64. Offences by taxation officers 65. Offences by companies 66. Penalty for failure to register 67. Penalty for failure to furnish returns or import declarations 68. Penalty for failure to pay tax when due 69. Penalty in relation to records 70. Penalty for making false or misleading statements 71. Recovery of penalties PART XVI ADMINISTRATION 72. Administration of Act 73. Exercise of powers and performance of duties 74. Secrecy Republic of Namibia 5 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 PART XVII FORMS AND NOTICES 75. Forms and notices, and authentication of documents 76. Service of notices and other documents PART XVIII GENERAL PROVISIONS 77. Tax-inclusive pricing 78. Variation of consideration on a change in rate of tax 79. Application of increased or reduced tax rate 80. Schemes for obtaining tax benefits 81. Currency conversion 82. International tax agreements 83. Arrangements to overcome difficulties or anomalies [The heading of section 83 is substituted by Act 34 of 2000.] 84. Regulations 84A. Rules for electronic communication [Section 84A is inserted by Act 12 of 2015.] 85. Variation in rate of tax and amendment of penalties 86. Repeal of laws, and interpretation 87. Transitional arrangements 88. Short title and commencement SCHEDULE I Financial Leases and Rental Agreements SCHEDULE II [Schedule II is repealed by Act 6 of 2002.] SCHEDULE III Zero-rated Supplies SCHEDULE IV Exempt Supplies SCHEDULE V Exempt Imports SCHEDULE VI Tax Invoices, Tax Credit Notes and Tax Debit Notes SCHEDULE VII Laws Repealed BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, as follows:- [Act 14 of 2022 provides that the words “determine” or “determined” are substituted for the words “prescribe” or “prescribed” wherever these words are used in relation to or in connection with the Commissioner.] PART I Republic of Namibia 6 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS Definitions 1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates - “appealable decision” means - (a) any decision contemplated in section 12(7), 16(6), 17(11), 19(7), 23(10), 24(6), 25(10), 27(7), 28(7), 30(3), 32(5), 36(6), 38(9), 71(6) or 80(3); or (b) any assessment made by the Commissioner under this Act; “assessment” means the determination by the Commissioner - (a) of an amount upon which any tax leviable under this Act is chargeable; or (b) of the amount of any such tax, penalties or interest, and includes any determination by the Commissioner which is in terms of this Act subject to objection and appeal; [The definition of “assessment” is inserted by Act 14 of 2022.] “association not for gain” means - (a) any institution of religious worship or institution of education, or any charitable organisation, children’s home, old-age home, orphanage or institution of a similar nature; or [Paragraph (a) is amended by Act 34 of 2000.] (b) any other society, association or organisation, whether incorporated or not, which - (i) is carried on otherwise than for the purposes of profit or gain to any proprietor, member or shareholder; and (ii) is, in terms of its memorandum, articles of association, written rules or other document constituting or governing the activities of that society, association or organisation - (aa) required to utilise any property or income solely in the furtherance of its aims and objects; and (bb) prohibited from transferring any portion thereof directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever so as to profit any person other than by way of the payment in good faith of reasonable remuneration to any officer or employee of the society, association or organisation for any services actually rendered to such society, association or organisation; and (cc) upon the winding-up or liquidation of such society, association or organisation, obliged to give or transfer its assets remaining after the satisfaction of its liabilities to some other society, association or organisation with objects similar to those of the said society, association or organisation; “capital goods” means any asset, or any component of any asset, which is of a character subject to a deduction of expenditures incurred as provided in sections l 7(1)(e), l 7(1)(f) and 18(1)(a) Republic of Namibia 7 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 (to the extent that it is in lieu of sections 17(1)(e) and 17(1)(f)) of the Income Tax Act, 1981 (Act No. 24 of 1981), and which is used in the course or furtherance of a taxable activity; “cash value”, in relation to a supply of goods under a credit agreement, means - (a) where the seller or lessor is a bank or other financial institution, an amount equal to the sum of - (i) the consideration paid by the bank or other financial institution for the goods or the open market value of the supply of the goods to the bank or other financial institution, whichever is the greater; and (ii) any consideration for erection, construction, assembly or installation of the goods borne by the bank or other financial institution; or (b) where the seller or lessor is a dealer, an amount equal to the sum of - (i) the consideration at which the goods are normally sold by the dealer for cash; and (ii) any consideration for erection, construction, assembly or installation of the goods borne by the dealer; “charitable organisation” means any organisation or institution of a public character and of a permanent nature which is registered or recognised under any law of Namibia and which - (a) carries on or intends to carry on charitable activities consisting of the provision of - (i) food, meals, board, lodging, clothing or other necessaries, comforts or amenities; or (ii) rehabilitation services, to the extent that those services do not constitute exempt medical services, to aged or indigent persons, children or physically or mentally handicapped persons; and (b) is in terms of its constitution required to utilise any property or income solely in the furtherance of its aims and objects and is prohibited from transferring any portion thereof, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever so as to profit any person other than by way of the payment in good faith of reasonable remuneration to any officer or employee of the organisation or institution for any services actually rendered to such organisation or institution; [The definition of “charitable organisation” is substituted by Act 6 of 2002.] “children’s home” means a children’s home registered under the Children’s Act, 1960 (Act No. 33 of 1960); [The Children’s Act 33 of 1960 has been replaced by the Child Care and Protection Act 3 of 2015.] “close corporation” means a close corporation within the meaning of the Close Corporations Act, 1988 (Act No. 26 of 1988); “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Inland Revenue; Republic of Namibia 8 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 [Section 26 and section 39(11) of the Namibia Revenue Agency Act 12 of 2017 both provide that a reference in any law to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue must now be construed as a reference to the Commissioner of the Revenue Agency.] “company” means any association or body corporate or unincorporate, or a close corporation, whether created or recognised under a law in force in Namibia or elsewhere, and whether created for profit or non-profit purposes, but does not include a partnership or trust; “connected persons” means - (a) any natural person and - (i) any relative of that natural person; or (ii) any trust in respect of which any such relative is or may be a beneficiary; or (b) any trust and any person who is or may be a beneficiary in respect of that trust; or (c) any partnership, unincorporated association or body, or close corporation and - (i) any member thereof; or (ii) any other person where that person and a member of such partnership, unincorporated association or body, or close corporation, as the case may be, are connected persons in terms of this definition; or (d) any incorporated company (other than a close corporation) and - (i) any person (other than an incorporated company), where that person or that person and any person connected to that person in terms of this definition controls ten per cent or more of - (aa) the voting power in the company; or (bb) the rights to distributions of capital or profits of the company, either directly or through one or more interposed companies, partnerships or trusts; or (ii) any other incorporated company in which the person referred to in subparagraph (i) or that person and any person connected to that person in terms of this definition controls ten per cent or more of - (aa) the voting power in the first-mentioned company; or (bb) the rights to distributions of capital or profits of the first-mentioned company, either directly or through one or more interposed companies, partnerships or trusts; or (iii) any person where that person and the person referred to in subparagraph (i) or the other incorporated company referred to in subparagraph (ii) are connected persons in terms of this definition; or Republic of Namibia 9 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 (iv) any person connected to the person referred to in subparagraph (iii) in terms of this definition; “consideration”, in relation to a supply or import of goods or services, means the total amount in money or kind paid or payable (including any deposit on any returnable container) for the supply or import by any person, directly or indirectly, including any duties, levies, fees, and charges (other than tax) paid or payable on, or by reason of, the supply or import, reduced by any price discounts or rebates allowed and accounted for at the time of the supply or import, but does not include - (a) any cash payment made by any person as an unconditional gift to any association not for gain; or (b) a deposit (other than a deposit on a returnable container), whether refundable or not, given in connection with a supply of goods or services unless and until the supplier applies the deposit as consideration for the supply or such deposit is forfeited; “credit agreement” means an instalment sale transaction as defined in section 1 of the Credit Agreements Act, 1980 (Act No. 75 of 1980), or a financial lease; “Customs and Excise Act” means the Customs and Excise Act, 1998 (Act No. 20 of 1998); “debt security” means - (a) an interest in or right to be paid money; or (b) an obligation or liability to pay money, that is, or is to be, owing by any person, but does not include a cheque; and; [The definition of “debt security” is inserted by Act 2 of 2007. The “and;” at the end is superfluous.] “dwelling” means a dwelling as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule IV; “employee” means any person (other than a company) who receives any remuneration or to whom any remuneration accrues and includes an office holder; “exempt import” means an exempt import referred to in section 13; “exempt supply” means an exempt supply referred to in section 10; “export country” means any country other than Namibia and includes any place which is not situated in Namibia, but does not include any specific country or territory that the President by proclamation in the Gazette designates as one that is not an export country; “export processing zone” means an export processing zone as defined in section 1 of the Export Processing Zones Act; “export processing zone enterprise” means an export processing zone enterprise as defined in section 1 of the Export Processing Zones Act; “export processing zone management company” means an export processing zone management company as defined in section 1 of the Export Processing Zones Act; Republic of Namibia 10 Annotated Statutes Value-Added Tax Act 10 of 2000 “Export Processing Zones Act” means the Export Processing Zones Act, 1995 (Act No. 9 of 1995); “exported from Namibia”, in relation to any movable goods supplied by any registered person under a sale or a credit agreement, means - (a) consigned or delivered by the registered person to the recipient at an address in an export country as evidenced by documentary proof acceptable to the Commissioner; or (b) delivered by the registered person to the owner or charterer of any foreign-going ship contemplated in paragraph (a) of the definition of “foreign-going ship” or to a foreign- going aircraft when such ship or aircraft is going to a destination in an export country and such goods are for use or consumption in such ship or aircraft, as the case may be; or (c) delivered by the registered person to the owner or charterer of any foreign-going ship contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of “foreign-going ship” for use in such ship; “financial institution” means a banking or like institution authorised or registered under the applicable laws of Namibia to conduct business as such; [The definition of “financial institution” is inserted by Act 34 of 2000.] “financial lease” means a financial lease as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule I; “foreign-going aircraft” means any aircraft engaged in the transportation for reward of passengers or goods wholly or mainly on flights between airports in Namibia and airports in export countries or between airports in export countries; “foreign-going ship” means - (a) any ship or other vessel engaged in the transportation for reward of passengers or goods wholly or mainly on voyages between ports in Namibia and ports in export countries or between ports in export countries; or (b) any ship or other vessel registered in an export country where such ship or vessel is utilised for the purposes of a commercial, fishing or other concern conducted outside Namibia by a non-resident person who is not a registered person; “gaming establishment” includes any casino, gambling house or bookmaking business, as defined in section 1 of the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act, 1994 (Act No. 32 of 1994); [The Casinos and Gambling Houses Act 32 of 1994 has been replaced by the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act 13 of 2018.] “goods” means all kinds of corporeal movable or immovable property, thermal or electrical energy, heat, gas, refrigeration, air conditioning and water, but does not include money; “immovable property” means - (a) land (together with improvements affixed thereto); or (b) any unit as defined in section 1 of the Sectional Titles Act, 1971 (Act No. 66 of 1971); or (c) any real right in any such land or unit;