Consumers have been urged to be more diligent and insist on tax invoices when they undertake any business transaction which attracts taxes.
That, according to tax administrators, will help check tax evasion and tax underpayments by businesses.
The Assistant Commissioner of the Compliance, Enforcement and Debt Management Unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Dr Dela Heloo, made the call and explained that paying more attention to receipts and tax invoices would result in an improvement in tax laws compliance.
“Tax collection is a partnership. The taxpayers are to help your business flourish because if your businesses do not grow, it affects tax revenue mobilisation and we will have no business being tax administrators,” he said.
The seminar was organised by the Kinbu GRA District office in Accra for taxpayers. It was aimed at improving revenue mobilisation by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
E-filing and payment
Mr Hello also announced that the GRA was planning to make it possible for businesses to file their returns and make payments electronically “so that you can conveniently stay in your office and make payments or file your returns.”
He noted that the migration from the manual system to the digital system would be easy when the level of compliance improved.
The seminar provided an interface between taxpayers and tax administration, which helps to create a friendly atmosphere in tax collection.
A Senior Revenue Officer of the Kinbu Large Tax office, Mr Dominic Nartey, said any person engaged in any taxable activity must apply and register with the GRA.
He stated that in accordance with the tax laws, every individual with taxable income was obliged to furnish returns on his income to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority each year for assessment.
“Filing tax returns is a responsibility imposed by law on all. Honouring tax obligations qualifies taxpayers for a number of reliefs.”
He observed that some companies and businesses had failed to use the correct approach of taxing allowances, bonuses and other benefits enjoyed by employees and managers.
“People do not use the right approach when taxing benefits such as accommodation, vehicle, clothing and fuel allowances, among others.”
He observed that some of the companies lacked qualified and trained persons with adequate knowledge about taxes, adding that “some of them either have little knowledge about the tax laws or do not know that some of the laws have been amended and they keep referring to old rates.”
A revenue officer at the Kinbu tax office, Mr Gabriel Gaanu, told the participants to take note that the amended tax law had extended the coverage of Value Added Tax to financial services rendered for a fee or commission.
Source: Graphic