Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) appears to be very serious with dealing with would-be tax defaulters. Currently, it is working with Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, through the Judicial Service, to set up a dedicated court to deal with tax offenses expeditiously as a way to engender tax compliance.
Acting Commissioner General for the GRA, Ammishadai Owusu- Amoah made this known to journalists to outline measures being taken to increase revenue collection this year.
The move is being done alongside the training of some selected judges on tax laws to equip them with all the nuances and amendments that have happened in recent years.
“With these structures in place, we would like to sound a strong word of caution to tax defaulters and persons who indulge in fraudulent tax practices that they will be prosecuted expeditiously according to the tax laws,” Mr. Owusu- Amoah said.
In fact, the GRA intends to invest a lot of time this year to intensify tax education which is crucial since not too many citizens are aware of their tax obligations as it was treated in the past as an optional matter. However, the GRA is aware that many fall foul to the law not because they want to, but because they are unaware of their rights and obligations under the law, as individuals and business entities.
In the light of COVID-19, virtual tax education will also be used to complement the other modes of education which we believe is a good option. The GRA says it would continue deploying new digital platforms and enhance already existing ones that would support tax compliance.
We applaud the initiative since domestic revenue mobilization is key to government’s quest for a ‘Ghana beyond Aid’ and that vision can only be realized when citizens pay their tax obligations promptly to enable government boost its revenue streams.
The GRA is crucial for revenue mobilization and now the Authority believes beefing up domestic revenue mobilization is important in meeting the new target it has set itself, and hence, its determination to expand the tax net.
With such strategies, meeting its annual target should be achievable.
