GRA

GRA Justifies $773m Tax Imposed On MTN

GRA Justifies $773m Tax Imposed On MTN

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has justified a $773 million back-tax bill it imposed on telecommunication company, MTN. MTN in an earlier statement contested the back-tax bill, describing it as inaccurate. Responding to the issue, the GRA maintained that the action was right in law. “Section 36 of the Revenue Administration Act 2016, (Act 915), mandates the Commissioner-General to audit the tax affairs of a person; and it is in accordance with this provision that the Authority conducted a Tax audit on MTN Ghana for the tax period 2014 to 2018” a statement released by the GRA said. “The audit…
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1% E-Levy: GRA To Reimburse Customers Wrongfully Overcharged

1% E-Levy: GRA To Reimburse Customers Wrongfully Overcharged

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has assured to reimburse mobile money customers who are wrongfully overcharged following the implementation of the 1 percent levy on electronic transfers. The reduction of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) from 1.5 to 1 percent commenced on Wednesday, January 11. The reduction of the levy was made known in the 2023 Budget and Economic Policy Statement presented on the floor of Parliament last year by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. Speaking to Citi News, a Member of the E-levy Technical Committee GRA, Opoku Afriyie Asante said adequate measures have been put in place to deal with…
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Implementation Of 1% E-Levy Begins From January 11, 2022 – Telecoms Chamber

Implementation Of 1% E-Levy Begins From January 11, 2022 – Telecoms Chamber

Following the directive from the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the implementation of the revised Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) rate of 1% by mobile service providers will begin from tomorrow January 11, 2023. The service providers are Airtel Mobile Commerce (Ghana) Limited, GCB G-Money, Mobile Money Limited, Vodafone Mobile Financial Services Limited and Zeepay Ghana Limited. A statement from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications assured the general public that its members are working assiduously with the GRA and other key institutions, to ensure a seamless implementation of the revised E-Levy from January 11, 2023. “The Chamber would…
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GRA Announces Complete Reversal Of Benchmark Discount Policy On Goods, Vehicles From January 1, 2023

GRA Announces Complete Reversal Of Benchmark Discount Policy On Goods, Vehicles From January 1, 2023

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced a complete reversal of the discount on the Free on Board (FOB) value of general goods and Home Delivery Value (HDV) on vehicles from January 1, 2023. This means importers will not enjoy anymore 10% discount on vehicles and 30% discount on all other goods from next year. According to the GRA, the move is in line with the 2023 Budget and Economic Policy via which the government intends using to accrue more revenue for the State. In a statement to all sector commanders under the Customs Division sighted by Joy Business, the…
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GRA To Descend On Event Centers, Pubs Evading Taxes During Christmas

GRA To Descend On Event Centers, Pubs Evading Taxes During Christmas

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has indicated it will descend on the hospitality industry during the festive season to clamp down on all event centers, pubs, restaurants and cinemas operating unlawfully. This came to light after the enforcement team of the GRA embarked on an exercise to seize and invite owners of some nine shops operating in the Achimota Mall in the Greater Accra region for non-registration of company as well as invoicing infractions. The Head of Enforcement Unit at the GRA, Accra-Central, Joseph Annan, told Joy Business some businesses operating in the mall complied with the laws of the…
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GRA To Focus On Hospitality And Tourism Sector During Festive Season To Rake In Revenue

GRA To Focus On Hospitality And Tourism Sector During Festive Season To Rake In Revenue

The Compliance and Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it has turned its attention to operators in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry to ensure that the right taxes are paid during the festive season. According to the GRA, there are close to 100 grand events slated for December which will be keenly monitored by the authority for tax compliance. Speaking to Joy Business, the Head of Operations at the GRA, Kwesi Eghan said it will embark on mystery shopping during the season to stop the evasion of taxes. “What we are doing now is that, Christmas is…
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Customs Intercept 1,200 ‘Togo Cars’ In Two Years

Customs Intercept 1,200 ‘Togo Cars’ In Two Years

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said an estimated 1,200 ‘Togo cars’ have been intercepted, in the Greater Accra Region alone, within the last two years. These cars initially entered the country legitimately but became illegal after exhausting their stay – falsifying documents to merit legal status and thereby evade import taxes. Ag. Commissioner of Customs, Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, told B&FT that the Division seizes an average 50 cars every month in hotspot regions – including the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Northern Regions. The scourge, accordingly, has resulted in an estimated US$30million revenue loss in…
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Deploy Aggressive Means Of Collecting Taxes- Kwaku Daworo Tells GRA

Deploy Aggressive Means Of Collecting Taxes- Kwaku Daworo Tells GRA

The host of Movement In The Morning Show, Kwaku Dawuro has requested for the use of aggressive means to collect taxes as Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) have refused to pay VAT describing disparities exist in its payment. According to GUTA the new VAT policy  compels consumer to go through double taxation, imposing a flat levy on businesses operating below five hundred thousand threshold. Retailers above the threshold however, are made to pay VAT standard of 19.25 percent, this new development has led to the refusal of the payment. Speaking Kwaku Dawuro said that ''one of IMF’s conditions in granting…
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Limit Political Interference To Make GRA Effective – Tax Expert

Limit Political Interference To Make GRA Effective – Tax Expert

Tax Expert at OXFAM Dr. Alex Ampaabeng has stated that political interference is rendering the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) less effective in the discharge of its mandate. According to him, the rampant political intrusion into the administration and operation of very sensitive state institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority is costing the country a lot. Dr. Ampaabeng further called for the appointment of the head of GRA to be done by the staff of the authority instead of the president making such appointment. “The political games we are playing are costing the country a lot. I look forward to…
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New Tax Formulae: I am Disappointed In GRA For Not Issuing An Official Communique- Ama Daaku Says

New Tax Formulae: I am Disappointed In GRA For Not Issuing An Official Communique- Ama Daaku Says

A communicator of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ellen Ama Daaku has expressed her disappointment over Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) and Government Spokespersons' inability to vividly explain to Ghanaians the new tax formulae. She said this on Movement In the Morning Show on Wednesday 12th October, 2022. Speaking to Kwaku Dawuro, Ama Daaku said that ''government has not introduced new taxes, its just a new formulae introduced. There have been no form of education or explanation and people are painting government black. They are not even picking up calls,  respond to the media or give Journalists the right information''. ''They…
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