The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) on Tuesday hosted a virtual Awareness Session on the enforcement of Sections 110 and 124 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1998 (Act No. 20 of 1998).
The session, attended by more than 130 clearing agents and traders, addressed revenue leakages, looking at ways to ensure that all duties owed to the State are duly paid.
Section 124 of the Act stipulates that any customs duty payable, interest, fines, penalties or forfeitures incurred constitute a debt to the State.
It further provides that any goods imported, exported or in a customs and excise warehouse belonging to a debtor may be detained and subject to a lien until the outstanding amount is settled in full. In essence, this means that importers with outstanding duty payments will not be able to clear new goods until their debts to NamRA are fully paid.
Section 110, on the other hand, deals with the proper declaration and valuation of goods, ensuring that importers provide accurate information to prevent underpayment of duties. Non-compliance with these provisions may result in penalties, interest charges or the seizure of goods.
Engaging participants, the Manager of Customs Valuation and Classification Stanley Gurirab stressed that compliance with these provisions was crucial in upholding fair trade practices and protecting Namibia’s revenue base.
Stakeholders were encouraged to reach out to NamRA’s Customs Valuation and Classification Division for inquiries or further clarification. – NAMRA
