Media Release – Annual Duty Waiver Programme

Type: Public notice
Category: Public notice

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MEDIA RELEASE

________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release:

31 October 2023

NAMIBIAN BUSINESSES RECEIVE A LIFELINE, AS BIPA ANNOUNCES WAIVER OF

PENALTIES FROM 2012

Windhoek, Namibia - The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) is pleased to

announce the launch of its Annual Duty Penalty Waiver Programme, effective from 15

November 2023. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on business entities by

waiving penalties and additional fees accrued due to non-payment of annual duties for the

period from 2012 to 2022. To be eligible, businesses are required to fulfill specific conditions,

including applying for the programme and settling their outstanding capital amounts for each

year of non-compliance.

“Through the penalty waiver programme, BIPA’s primary objective is to ensure that

businesses are able to restore their dream of building competitive Namibian businesses and

in doing so, inspire a culture of innovation, economic resilience and compliance” noted

Vivienne Katjiuongua BIPA’s Chief Executive Officer.

Registered business entities are obliged to submit an annual return and pay associated duties

to the Registrar of Business and Intellectual Property. BIPA recognized that some business

owners may no have been aware of these post-registration obligations and as such, these

businesses continued to incur penalties for non-compliance, hence the introduction of this

waiver programme.

According to BIPA's records, non-compliant businesses have collectively accumulated a total

of approximately N$275-million in penalties for the period from 2012 to 2022. This is the sum

that could potentially be waived if all non-compliant registered businesses opt to participate

in the programme.

BIPA Head Office:

3 Ruhr Str,

Northern Industry

PZN Building

P O Box 185, Windhoek

Namibia

Tel: +264 61 299 4400

Email: info@bipa.na Directors: Immanuel ! Hanabeb - Chairperson, Sara Katiti - Deputy Chairperson:, Justin Strauss, Ashley Tjipitua, Nancy Watyoka, Hilka Alberto, Julius

www.bipa.na Haikali

Chief Executive Officer: Vivienne E. Katjiuongua, Company Secretary: Vacant

The waiver program was approved by the BIPA Board of Directors and has been endorsed

by Cabinet. Its primary objective of providing relief to business entities, aligns with

government's commitment to stimulate the local economy. The programme is scheduled to

run for a period of six months, commencing on 15 November 2023, and concluding on 31

March 2024. BIPA will announce outreach to various regions in due course.

Participating businesses would now be able to amend their businesses, something not

previously allowed when they owed outstanding duties and penalties. Additionally, they will

receive a BIPA Good Standing certificate upon application and payment processing. This

certificate will enable businesses to submit their good standing status along with other

mandatory documents when participating in public procurement bids.

Katjiuongua emphasized that “another advantage for participating businesses is the ability to

attract both domestic and foreign investors. Investors often conduct due diligence on

Namibian businesses, including an assessment of their level of compliance with their post-

registration obligations.”

To have their penalties waived, businesses must pay their capital amounts for each year of

non-payment, with specific amounts depending on the year and business type, including

additional fees for submission.

"We are confident that this waiver programme will have a profoundly positive impact on the

Namibian business sector. It presents businesses with a unique opportunity to reset and

ensure future compliance," Katjiuongua noted.

Issued by:

Ockert B. Jansen, CPRP

Executive: Marketing, Corporate Communications and Client Management Services

Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA)

Tel: +264 61-299 4494

Email: janseno@bipa.na