Assessed Losses: When NamRA Says “No” and Your Client Pays the Price
Assessed losses look simple. They are not. One wrong interpretation can wipe out years of tax relief and trigger a costly NamRA adjustment.
3 CPD units February 14, 2026
What will set you apart
By completing this course you will gain the following competencies
- The exact point when an assessed loss becomes deductible under Section 17
- The difference between a real tax loss and a commercial accounting loss
- When a loss quietly becomes capital in nature and non-deductible
- Why NamRA rejects loss carry-forwards during audits
- The warning signs that a loss will not survive a NamRA review
- How court judgments shaped the way assessed losses are interpreted today
- Practical checks to protect client loss carry-forwards before filing
- How incorrect loss treatment exposes practitioners to professional risk
Event breakdown
- Section 17 explained in practical terms
- The legal meaning of an assessed loss under Namibian tax law
- When a loss arises for tax purposes and when it does not
- Revenue losses versus capital losses in practice
- Timing errors that cause assessed losses to fail
- How NamRA evaluates loss carry-forwards during audits
- The impact of the Trustco judgment on assessed loss interpretation
- Common practitioner mistakes when calculating losses
- Documentation needed to defend a loss carry-forward
- Practical safeguards before submitting a tax return
Category: TaxationType: CPD CourseCPD category: Taxation
Description
Assessed losses remain one of the most misunderstood areas of Namibian tax practice. Many practitioners rely on accounting results and assume the loss will carry forward automatically. NamRA does not see it that way. Section 17 of the Income Tax Act draws a hard line between deductible revenue losses and losses that are capital in nature or incorrectly timed. When that line is crossed, years of accumulated losses can disappear overnight. Recent scrutiny by NamRA has increased the risk. Courts have also reinforced a strict interpretation of what qualifies as a legitimate assessed loss. The consequences are real. Disallowed losses lead to unexpected tax liabilities, penalties, and damaged client relationships. Understanding how assessed losses are tested, verified, and challenged is now essential for every practitioner signing off a return.
You will earn a certificate
On successful completion you will receive a certificate for 3 CPD units in Taxation.
Requirements
- Laptop, desktop, or mobile device with internet access
- Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browser