George Blankson, Commissioner-General of GRA
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced plans to address the delinquency of taxpayers this year in order to boost revenue.
“We intend to deal with delinquent taxpayers in 2012, but our first option will always be to offer the ‘carrot’ that is to induce taxpayers to comply voluntarily before we apply the ‘stick,” said George Blankson, the Commissioner General of GRA.
The move forms part of GRA’s strategic plans for the year 2012 since the authority has been tasked to mobilize GH¢11,166.57 million which would be paid into the treasury.
Speaking to CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE in an exclusive interview, Mr Blankson said measures would be put in place to ensure that the authority attains its target by intensifying the audit of particularly large taxpayers and examining submitted tax returns.
Debtors of the GRA would also be dealt with as the authority intends to recover all arrears this year.
There are also plans to effectively track and intercept smuggled goods since perpetrators of the illegal act evade taxes.
“We are ready to ensure that we tackle all revenue leakages, especially in the transit sector.”
The informal sector, which employs majority of the population, would not be spared.
According to the Commissioner General, a task force would pay regular visits to operators to ensure the payment of taxes.
Though the authority intends to be tough, Mr Blankson stated that the use of extreme enforcement actions such as levying warrant of distress and closing of shops will only be applied as a last resort.
The move is aimed at minimizing arrears to boost revenue collection this year.
Though the category of businesses that would be affected is not readily known, there are reports that a number of companies both big and small firms will be affected.
Mr Blankson noted that the “level of tax arrears is not too much but we must seek to bring it down. Of course, we know that the collection of tax revenue is not clockwise where we will have every one paying on time. It is a human institution.”
He urged the taxpayers to comply with the law and honour their tax obligations promptly. “Taxpayers are GRA’s key stakeholders who give us revenue and our first preference is to work with them.”
By Emelia Ennin Abbey
