A law that imposes a pecuniary obligation on citizens must be clear, unambiguous and precise. It should not create the opportunity for varied interpretations; particularly, when it comes to tax law. Considering that tax laws are to be interpreted strictly by giving effect to the meaning of the ordinary words used or technical words used in the law, it is pertinent that the law is precise, clear and unambiguous.
Nature and elements of tax
To ensure that a tax law is clear, unambiguous and precise, it must, at least, demonstrate three basic elements. These elements are that:
- A tax law must clearly identify the tax base on which the tax is imposed – the subject on which the tax rate will be applied must be ascertained.
- The tax law must clearly identify the tax rate that will be charged on the tax base.
- The tax law must clearly identify the person who pays the tax (the taxpayer). In this case, it must also show who bears the incidence of the tax.
Every tax law must demonstrate these basic elements. The absence of any of these elements renders that tax law ambiguous, imprecise, unclear and not implementable. For example, when a tax rate is omitted, what tax will the tax payer be required to pay? When the taxpayer is not identified clearly, who pays the tax? And, where the tax base is not provided, on what amount will the tax rate be applied?
Thus, the Value Added Tax, 2015 (Act 870), Communication Service Tax Act, 2008 (Act 754), Customs Act, 2016 (Act 891), Income Tax Act 896 (Act 896) etc., all demonstrate these three basic elements of tax. This helps to ensure unimpeded implementation of the various tax laws enacted by Parliament.
In the Communication Service Tax Act, 2008 (Act 754) sections 1, 2 and 3 read:
Section 1 – “There is imposed on by this Act a tax to be known as Communication Service Tax to be levied on the charges payable by a user of an electronic communications service other than private electronic communication services. The tax shall be levied on electronic communication service supplied by the service provider.” By this section, the law identifies the tax base.
Section 2 – “The tax shall be paid together with the electronic communication service by the user of the service”. By this section, the law identifies the taxpayer.
Section 3 – “The rate of tax is 6%” (as amended to 5%) (emphasis is mine). By this section, the law identifies the tax rate.
From the sections in Act 754 highlighted above, it can clearly be seen that this tax law shows all the three basic elements explained above. These are: 1. The tax rate at 5%, 2. The tax base – the electronic communication service supplied together with the service charged and 3. The taxpayer – being the user of the service.
The position of the E-levy Act
A closer look at the Electronic Transactions Levy Act, 2022 (Act 1075) brings in a different perspective.
Section 1 of the Act explains the imposition of the levy and it reads
“There is imposed by this Act an electronic transfer levy of 1.5% on electronic transfers. The Levy shall be charged on the electronic transfers at the time of the transfer by the entities listed in the First Schedule”.
From the section 1 of this Act 1075, there are only two of the elements to be identified, out of the three basic elements explained above. These are:
- The tax rate which is 1.5%
- The tax base which is the transfer to be made.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to deduce the taxpayer from section 1 or any other provisions of Act 1075. Act 1075 states that the levy is imposed at the time of transfer, which means the tax point in this case, is the time at which the transfer occurs. At the tax point, three revenue sources arise as follow:
- The income accruing from the originator of the transfer;
- The income accruing to the recipient of the transfer; and
- The fees charged by the Entities mandated to charge the tax.
In this case, given the wording of section 1 of Act 1075 and the nature of the sources of income at the time of transfer, we can identify three categories of taxpayers who may likely bear the incidence of the tax, otherwise pay the tax. These are: 1. The originator of the transfer; 2. The recipient of the transfer; and 3. The electronic money issuer or the bank.
Given that the obligation on the electronic money issuer or the banks is to charge the tax on the value of the transfer, then, the question is who pays the tax, otherwise, who bears the incidence of the tax. Could it be the originator of the transfer or the recipient of the transfer? If it is the originator, this is not provided for in the Act 1075. Also, if it is the recipient, this is also not provided in the Act. Should it be the electronic money issuer or the bank? The Act did not mention that.
Unlike the other tax laws, for example, the Communication Service Tax Act discussed above, this tax law does not clearly identify who pays the tax, thus whether it is the originator of the transfer or the recipient of the transfer or the electronic money issuer or the bank. There is absence of the person who pays the tax. It must be emphasised that the Memorandum to the Bill, and for the matter to Act 1075 provides that, the person who pays the tax is the person who makes the transfer. Unfortunately, this wording did not find any expression in the main Act 1075 when it was finally passed.
Time for filing and remitting the tax
One other issue of concern is on the time or period within which entities mandated to collect the tax, file a tax return and remit the tax collected to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority. No provision is made to this effect in Act 1075. Unlike all other tax laws, for example, the Value Added Tax, 2013 (Act 870) in section 52(4) (5) provides as follows;
“(4) The tax return shall be submitted to the Commissioner-General not later than the last working day of the month immediately following the month to which the return relates, whether or not tax is payable for the tax period.
(5) The payment of the tax due for a tax period shall be made to the Commissioner-General not later than the date the return prescribed in subsection (4) is required to be submitted”
So, one could clearly know the time to file a return and pay the tax when it comes to VAT. Unfortunately, there is no specific time or period stated in the Electronic Transfer Levy Act within which the entities mandated to charge the tax, remit same to the Commissioner-General. Section 3 of Act 1075 requires the Commissioner-General to administer the tax in accordance with the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915). This section reads:
“The Commissioner-General shall administer the Levy in accordance with the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915)”.
However, section 46(1) of the Revenue Administration Acts reads:
“A tax is payable at the time specified in the tax law under which the tax is charged”.
In this case, since no time is provided in Act 1075 for the tax to be remitted to the Commissioner-General, it becomes difficult to compel, penalise or surcharge interest to the entities mandated to remit the tax to the Commissioner-General when they fail to do so.
Using administrative interpretation to cure the anomaly
There are views that administrative interpretation by the Commissioner-General under section 100 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915) may cure this anomaly. Unfortunately, the Commissioner-General has no such power to impose a tax or amend a tax law to prescribe who pays a tax and the time the tax is to be paid. Article 174(1) of the 1992 Constitution gives that power solely to Parliament and no other person can arrogate such power to himself or herself.
Section 100 of the Revenue Administration Act 915 provides:
“To achieve consistency in the administration of tax laws, and to provide guidance to person affected by the tax laws, including tax officers, the Commissioner-General may issue practice notes setting out the interpretation placed on the provisions of the tax law by the Commissioner-General”. (Emphasis mine)
It is worthy of note that the provision above states that “…person affected by the tax laws…”, which persons Act 1075 has not mentioned.
Article 174(1) of the Constitution provides that Parliament is the only organ of government that must impose a tax – “No taxation shall be imposed otherwise than by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament”.
Conclusion
To clear this ambiguity as to who pays the tax, the time to file returns, and the time to pay the tax, there is need for Parliament to amend the relevant sections, particularly, section 1 and 2 of Act 1075, or insert a new section to reflect the issues identified in this write-up.
The writer is a tax practitioner and international tax adviser
