The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has appealed to the business community to collaborate with its taskforce as the Authority moves to engage leadership of traders to address concerns over the collection of taxes.
This comes on the back of a warning by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), against the GRA over allegations of the use of intimidating tactics to implement the Upfront Payment of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
GUTA has also criticized the GRA’s practice of sending officers to sit in the shops of traders to monitor their sales.
But in a statement issued on Friday, September 22, 2023, the Ghana Revenue Authority emphasized that it employs various compliance and enforcement strategies in its revenue mobilization drive.
The release further explains that the Authority is working to reduce human involvement in its collection process to ensure efficiency.
It clarified that the careful inspections of goods for which GUTA is complaining is “to curtail smuggling, under declaration, misdescription and concealment of goods thereby ensuring that the right amount of duties and taxes are paid by importers.”
The statement enumerated instances where such meticulous inspections have led to the discovery of attempted smuggling.
GRA urged members of GUTA and Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) to comply with the tax regulations enacted to enhance revenue collection and report non-compliant members to the relevant authorities for onward action.
“Management of the GRA therefore wishes to appeal to the leadership of GUTA and TAGG to cooperate with the various Taskforces across the country and encourage their members to comply with the Tax laws. We will continue to engage the members of Trade Associations, including GUTA and TAGG, to address their issues as we strive to achieve our common goal of revenue mobilization.
“We also encourage the general public to report any misconduct on the part of GRA officers during these exercises and in their normal course of work on 0800-900-110. Additionally, the names of companies, importers, and Clearing agents who have been found to be involved in these malpractices and the resultant short collection will be published as the laws prescribe.”
Source: citibusinessnews.com
