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Tag: GRA

  • Execute responsibilities devoid of partisan politics – CEPS Officers told

    The Commissioner of the Customs Exercise and Preventive Services (CEPS) of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Col. Kwadzwo Damoah (Rtd), has asked CEPS officers to undertake their mandates devoid of partisan politics since their services do not align with politics.

    According to him, as security and revenue collectors, they must remain loyal to the nation-building, work, and ensure a safe environment to encourage peaceful coexistence with neighbouring countries, to harness normal economic and social life.

    Addressing the media after he met with both Junior and Senior staff during his working visit to Aflao Sector on Thursday, 3 July 2020, Mr. Kwadwo said, although they (officers) belong to political parties and will practice their rights by voting for one political party and the other, their political colours shouldn’t reflect in their line of duties, especially during this season of political campaigns and activities.

    ” Why I’m appealing to the officers is that, yes, we admit that come December 7, all of us we are going to vote and actually we are likely to vote for parties of our choices and that is democracy nobody can prevent anybody from voting but that is distinct from our official duties. Officially, we are supposed to perform a certain mandate and that is why I’m appealing to them that, they should focus on that official mandate, remain loyal to the state and should not in any way allow political differences to affect the way we go our duties,” He said.

    Speaking on revenue generation, the Commissioner said, the novel COVID-19 has affected revenue generation since February 2020, He revealed that, ” Naturally, the volume coming which already was reducing is going to reduce further, so we have done some analysis and it’s shown in a direction that, our revenue is going down. In the case of Customs, in January, we recorded more than 1 billion and in February we fell below 1 billion and in March it fell further than 1 billion and in April when the real effect of the COVID is in, it still went further than before, so on that angle, we are able to say that COVID-19 is indeed hitting us hard in terms of revenue because of the volumes of imports that are coming now,” He told the media.

    He, however, charged the personnel to work harder to get more revenue for the country and so they will be able to pay salaries and among other important expenditures without financial difficulties, ” if you (the officers) increase the revenue, then all things being equal, your chances of being able to have some left after your payment of salaries and allowances will be higher and therefore we will be able to provide other essential by way of logistics and operations” he advised.

    On rewards, the Commissioner applauded the Aflao sector for the recent intercepted 42 kilograms of substances suspected to be cocaine, heroin and tramadol on Friday 5, June 2020.

    Although there has been an allegation of some amount of the items been missing, Mr. Kwadwo said there is a need for him to reward officers involved in arresting the substances, adding that investigation has been launched into the missing substances.

    “We thought that we should commend them for what they had achieved while not glossing over this one, efforts have been made to try to find the whereabouts of this things ” He mentioned.

    The Commissioner with his entourage visited the various pillars, checkpoints and entry points on the Lome, Aflao border. He therefore advised the personnel to adhere to the various COVID-19 protocols and help educate the citizenry on the pandemic.

     

    Source: Albert Kuzor, Contributor

  • GRA launches probe into missing Kpoglu border cocaine

    The Ghana Revenue Authority has launched a probe to unravel the circumstances leading to the disappearance of some substances suspected to be cocaine.

    The substance with a street value of US$3,000 was intercepted at the Kpoglu Border Post in the Ketu South Municipality on June 5.

    Between the confiscation and transportation of the suspected drug to the offices of the appropriate authorities for testing and further investigations however, a percentage of the powdery substance got missing.

    In a statement signed by the Assistant Commissioner at its Communication and Public Affairs Directorate, the Ghana Revenue Authority explained that the operations leading to the interception of the substance were transparent, inclusive, and was “carried out with the utmost integrity on the part of the Customs Division.”

    The statement added that “when concluded, the outcome of the investigations and the findings will be of the Police Forensic Laboratory will be made public.”

    Meanwhile, the two institutions at the centre of the saga — the Narcotics Control Commission and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) are accusing each other of the issue at hand.

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • GRA beefs up Customs staff at ports to clear backlogs

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has directed its Customs Division at the port to resume normal operations, as their shift system which was put in place due to measures to check the spread of COVID-19 has been cancelled.

    The move is part of urgent steps being taken by the GRA to ensure that the backlog of uncleared goods at the port due to challenges faced with the newly introduced Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) managed by UNIPASS is handled quickly.

    The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), has over the past week lamented the inability of its members to carry out their operation at the port due to system challenges, leading to the lock up of goods. They fear that, as a result of no fault of theirs, they may have to pay demurrage and rent charges.

    The GIFF at a press conference last week, raised issues ranging from system inaccessibility, importer Tax Identification Number (TIN), delivery time benchmark, manual processing, security, system calculator, call center, information management, training and frontier challenges.

    But the Project Manager of ICUMS, Assistant Commissioner of Custom Emmanuel Ohene described their concerns as over rated as the system was functioning even though not at its full capacity.

    This necessitated a meeting last week at the Tema Port with the Commissioner General Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, UNIPASS Team Customs and others where a communique from the meeting cited by the B&FT stated that due to the observation of COVID -19 protocols, Custom officials were reporting to work in batches.

    The Commissioner General has therefore recalled all staffs to report to work with immediate effect and have been drafted into a morning and evening schedule; the morning shift will work till 5pm and the evening shift will then take over and close the following morning. This is expected to continue until all the backlogs have been cleared.

    Also, the valuation and the classification of goods from the frontiers or the boarders was considered at the meeting with a decision that, henceforth, the classifications will be performed by the officers at the frontiers.

    “The meeting resolved that, with immediate effect, a temporary approval has been given to customs to continue with their classifications, whiles pharmaceutical companies will continue processing their documentation and proceed with payments to enable them to obtain the various license and certificates instead of waiting for an assessment to be done on their documents. This is expected to will reduce the delay at the technical service bureau and payment of illegal fees,” the Commissioner General added.

    A stakeholders meeting has been scheduled to ensure the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Customs and others put across a pragmatic way to circumvent the ICUMS challenges but still keep revenues intact. The GRA is confident that, with ICUMS by the end of the year, clearing cargo from date of its discharge to its release at the sea ports would take 48 hours, while a lesser time would be required for air and land frontier operations.

    ICUMS, is a fully integrated port community, single and e-clearance system which currently has registered all Shipping Line/Agents, Terminal Operators, Container Freight Stations, Licensed Customs House Agents, Freight Forwarders, Bonded Warehouses/Free Zones Operators and other port community players.

    Source: B&FT Online

  • Internal analysis on benchmark discount policy was not approved by government – GRA

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has clarified an internal analysis on the benchmark value policy (discount policy) on import values was not approved by government thus the policy is inapplicable.

    According to a statement issued by the authority and copied to GhanaWeb said: “the Benchmark Value Policy (discount policy) continues to be implemented as originally announced by the Vice President, Dr Bawumia.”

    “That the said document with the list of items at both the heading and subheading levels of the HS code is an internal document analyzing the impact of the policy on our revenue collection with regards to those items as well as the impact on local industries, public health safety the environment,” the authority stated.

    The GRA however says it will continue to appreciate cooperation and support from the trading public and other stakeholders while urging them to assist the authority in its revenue mobilization efforts.

    Read the full statement below;

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • No new taxes on power consumption GRA clarifies

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has debunked allegations that it has tasked the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to charge Value Added Tax (VAT) on domestic consumers despite government directive of absorbing the electricity tariff of Ghanaians for the next three months.

    According to the GRA, there is no decision of introducing 18 per cent tax on electricity power consumption amidst the fight against coronavirus.

    The Minority in Parliament at a press conference demanded the immediate withdrawal of over 18 per cent tax on electricity as it warns of dire consequences on domestic consumers.

    Their demand comes after the GRA tasked the ECG to charge VAT on domestic consumers. Until now, electricity for consumers has been zero-rated for VAT since 2001.

    Adam Mutawakilu, who addressed the media indicated that, this will make Ghanaians pay more for electricity.

    “It will deny you from the food that you buy because you have to do your scale of preference and consumers will be burdened the more…so this 50 per cent was just to deceive Ghanaians, so you gave it to Ghanaians with one hand and then you take it with another hand,” he said.

    But Florence Asante, assistant communications and public affairs commissioner, in a statement said, “the GRA does not seek to introduce any new or additional charges to be levied on energy and capacity charges.”

    She, however, blame the ECG of already charging VAT, NHIL and GETFund levy on the supply of electricity in excess of lifeline units.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Charge VAT on power you supply ECG GRA orders power-producing companies

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has directed all electricity and power-producing companies to apply the GETFund Levy of 2.5%, NHIL 2.5% and VAT rate of 12.5% on the value of the energy they supply the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

    According to the GRA, it has sighted a notice dated March 13, 2001, which waives VAT on electricity supplied to the ECG.

    The GRA said the agreement is contrary to the Value Added Tax, 2013 (Act 870) which does not list supply of energy and capacity charge as one of the items that should be zero-rated.

    “It has come to our notice that some electricity producing and power supplying companies do charge VAT, GETfund and NHL, at zero rate to the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited contrary to the Value Added Tax Act, 2013 (Act 870).”

    “We wish to state that Section 36 of the Act which provides for zero rating of supply refers to the Second Schedule of the Act. However, the Second Schedule of the Act did not list supply of energy and capacity charge as one of the items that should be zero rated,” GRA said in a statement signed by its Acting Commissioner-General, Ammishadai Owusu-Amoah.

    The standard VAT rate is 12.5 percent calculated on the value of the taxable supply of goods or services or the value of an import.

    However, the zero-rated items include goods and services sold by companies who are free from the Goods and Services Tax.

    “We hereby direct that all electricity and power producing companies are required to apply the GETFund levy of 2.5% and NHIL 2.5% after that VAT is a standard rate of 12.5% on the value of the supplies, the GRA statement directed.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • GRA assures importers of GCNet system restoration today

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is assuring importers of the restoration of the GCNet system today, Wednesday, 29 April 2020.

    This follows complaints made by agents, among others, about the challenges they are facing in processing their customs documents at the Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMs).

    The GRA, in a statement, said the “management of GRA, as part of efforts to resolve these challenges is having consultations with management of GCNet for the restoration of the GCNet GCMS services.”

    It added that the discussions are almost concluded and management is hopeful that the GCNet GCMS system will be operational by today 29 April 2020.

    Continuing, it said, “management regrets any inconvenience that the disruptions have caused all its cherished stakeholders.”

    The GRA on Tuesday, 28 April 2020 said beginning 1 June 2020, all import and export transactions will be processed only through the new ICUMS.

    Accordingly, all existing transactions that began processing prior to 31 May 2020 that have not been completed in the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS) shall, however, be reprocessed through the new Integrated ICUMS.

    The GRA noted that the decision affects transactions that have been paid before or after duty.

    Source: Class FM

  • GRA did not meet 2019 target, Prof. Adei lied Aggrieved staff

    Aggrieved staff of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is asking their management to confess to the public that GRA did not meet it’s 2019 annual set target.

    GRA Board Chairman, Prof. Stephen Adei in an interview had stated that the state revenue mobilizing agency exceeded its target for 2019, a claim that was widely publicized and celebrated by the Authority.

    But the workers are threatening to expose the management over what they described as insincerity in announcing the said target.

    “How can the Board Chairman with your support, tell the whole world that GRA has met its 2019 annual target, supported this claim with empirical figures and facts, received all the commendations thereafter, had a Thanksgiving service to honour God both in Accra and Kumasi. Can GRA go back to the media and tell the whole world that it lied on the issue of achieving the 2019 annual target?” they wrote.

    Meanwhile, in a memo signed by the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority to its Workers Union over the rate for payment of 2019 bonus, the Acting Commissioner General Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah wrote;

    “The World over, bonuses are paid on profits and/or the achievement of targets. Since the original target set by the Ministry of Finance was not achieved, staff cannot make a claim for 15% of the annual basic salary. The Board in consideration of what was achieved therefore allocated 10% as a bonus”.

    In their written response to the Commissioner-General, they find it unfair how they have been denied access to their full bonuses because the target was not met.

    They are worried about the fact that they are unable to access 15% of the annual basic salary because the original target set by the Ministry of Finance was not achieved.

    “After all the celebration you come back a few months later (because of the 15% bonus payment to staff) to mean otherwise?” They asked, in a statement copied to the media.

    Read the full statements below:

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: GRA offices in lockdown areas to be closed

    All Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) offices in the Greater Accra region, Greater Kumasi and the Awutu Senya East area, will not operate during the period of the partial lockdown that starts from the dawn of Monday, March 30, 2020.

    Consequently, all staff are to stay home.

    According to the GRA, all other officers in the regions outside the affected areas, however, must continue to report to work. But they must strictly adhere to the social distancing directives and all protocols relating to the prevention of COVID-19 that have been communicated.

    In a statement signed by the Commissioner-General, Ammishaddai Owusu Amoah, the GRA said: “All heads of offices within the affected areas are to ensure that their office premises are secured by Sunday, March 29, 2020. They are also to ensure that all equipment, including air conditioners and computers are properly tuned off.

    “Security officers in the affected offices are to be on duty to provide the needed security and will be assisted by officers of the Preventive Department of the Customs Division. These officers will be provided with official GRA passes to enable them to attend to their duties when necessary.”

    It added: “All staff are advised to adhere strictly to the directives given by the President of the Republic of Ghana.

    “Management assures all staff of its commitment to their well-being and will communicate additional directives to staff where necessary.”

    Meanwhile, the GRA says all taxpayers will be provided with bank accounts and email addresses to enable them pay their taxes via banks.

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Police impound Nigerian truck

    The Accra Regional Police Command, in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has impounded a 40-footer truck carrying contraband goods from Nigeria to Ghana.

    Sani Mohammed, a 30-year-old driver in charge of the truck with registration number AE 960 JEG, has been arrested by the police to assist in investigation.

    The truck was impounded at Achimota heading towards a warehouse in a yet-to-be identified location, according to police reports.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police Effia Tenge, who is Regional Police Public Relations Officer for Accra, when contacted, said the truck was spotted by the police around Achimota after personnel had suspected it of carrying contraband goods.

    Upon a search, she said, the police detected that the truck contained pharmaceutical products and wax prints and so they had to call on the relevant stakeholders for assistance.

    DSP Tenge confirmed that the arrest of the truck driver would help the police to trace the owners of the said goods and get further information on how the goods got into the country.

    A representative of the Customs Division of the GRA, Nana Yankey, in an address, said they suspected the goods were smuggled into the country using head porters since Nigeria had closed its border.

    “What these smugglers do is to carry the goods through unapproved routes and after going through the normal borders, with Temporary Vehicle Importation (TVI), they drive at a distance and load these drugs back into the vehicle,” she noted.

    The goods, he revealed, were currently being examined at the Airport Customs site for the necessary action to be taken.

     

    Source: Dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Netherlands to build capacity of GRA personnel

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Netherlands Tax and Customs Administration to build the capacity of personnel on transfer pricing and risk-based audit. The MOU will span 18 months starting from March 2020.

    Under the MoU, GRA officials would be empowered in the area of Domestic Tax Revenue Division; risk-based audits while enhancing the skills of Transfer Pricing Unit of the Large Taxpayer Office.

    Source: GNA

  • GRA announces GHC25k informant reward to clampdown on tax defaulters

    The Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA has announced a GHS25,000 reward for any person who will act as an informant to help discover huge tax defaulters in the country. According to the GRA, this is part of many measures introduced to help improve revenue collection in the short to medium term.

    Acting Commissioner-General for the GRA, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah in an interview with Joy FM said the reward packages are very attractive.

    Hospitalised Beige Bank CEO, Mike Nyinaku granted GHC352 million bail

    He also entreated Ghanaians to take advantage of it to help the GRA realize its revenue target.

    “So as the whistleblower Act is being finalized……..but the execution and implementation has not been completely done, therefore, people are not being able to get their benefit from the whistleblower Act so while that is pending we want to come up with our own that is why we don’t want to call it the whistleblower because we don’t want to conflict with it, but the whistleblower Act operational we will go by it, for the meantime, we will go with our informant award policy, we have already come out if it and the board has approved and the rewards are very attractive..”

    Ghana gets 250 million Euros to upgrade electricity transmission infrastructure

    Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah said helplines will soon be published in the dailies to allow Ghanaians taxpayers who feel intimidated to report to the GRA.

    He revealed that the GRA will also roll out what is called ‘Who audits the auditor’ to ensure that ones an audit is done the team will sample and reaudit.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • 3 persons confess to stealing from GRA

    At the Kpetoe District Court on Wednesday, 8 January 2020, three persons arrested by the Kpetoe District Police for stealing from the Ghana Revenue Authority premises in Kpetoe confessed to the crime.

    The three, Badawusu Kwadzo James aged 18, Bedu Godsway aged 21 and Agbowali John aged 21, pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing and were convicted on their own plea for sentence to be delivered today, Friday, 10 January 2020.

    Three arrested persons confess to stealing from GRA Academy

    The convicts stole four Polytanks with 10,000 litre capacity each, 24 pieces of ceiling fans and a set of water closet all valued at GHS23,500.00; from a construction site of the Ghana Revenue Academy at Kpetoe.

    Some residents of Kpetoe are said to be jubilating over their arrest and cites the convicts as perpetrators of several reported incidents of stealing.

  • GRA ‘shuts down’ Hippo General and Haulage company over GH¢1.3b arrears

    The Ghana Revenue Authority says it has taken action to distress Hippo General and Haulage Transportation company for owing tax to the tune of over GH?1.3 billion.

    Personnel of the tax agency aided by some security officers on Friday, stormed the premises of the company to effect the action.

    Read: Pay your taxes by Monday or face closure GRA warns 5 popular pubs

    Financial distress is a condition in which a company or individual cannot generate revenue or income because it is unable to meet or cannot pay its financial obligations. This is generally due to high fixed costs, illiquid assets, or revenues sensitive to economic downturns.

     

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Fire outbreak has not stopped tax collection GRA

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has warned taxpayers nationwide not to think that the recent fire incident at its Kwame Nkrumah Circle Office in Accra, has shifted its focus from collecting taxes.

    Commissioner General of GRA, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, served the warning at a press conference on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, in Accra.

    Read: Fire destroys dozens of abandoned SADA tricycles in Wa

    He said emphatically that “we are therefore cautioning taxpayers that the fire outbreak has not shifted our focus from our goal of maximizing revenue at this crucial time.

    The fire outbreak occurred on Sunday morning, December 1.

    The Commissioner-General reiterated that the second floor of the building was completely ravaged by the fire leading to some losses.

    According to him, GRA is still awaiting the report from the Ghana National Fire Service to determine the next line of action with regard to that building.

    “I will however reiterate that the GRA has a backup system, so there will not be any loss of data, no loss of money,” he said.

    He however bemoaned that “it is unfortunate that the Authority has suffered this setback at a time when we are at a critical period in our revenue mobilization drive.”

    He noted that “the Authority is however still focused and is still poised to working hard to attain the needed revenue for national development.”

    Measures

    He stated that some arrangements have been made since the incidence.

    According to him, Large Taxpayers who interact with business at the LTO can transact business at Kinbu Sub LTO, at the Head Office, Ministries; Kaneshie MTO, Dadeben Road, Katenit, Building Kaneshie Industrial area; Osu MTO, Mission Street, Papaye Down, Legon MTO, Tema MTO.

    He noted that the Authority has also put in place measures to help the affected staff in dealing with the loss suffered by offering them counseling and psychological support.

    Read: GRA ignored fire safety advice — Fire Service

    The Commissioner-General explained that other measures being deployed by the Authority to take in more revenue are an intensification of prosecution of defaulting taxpayers and also the publication of defaulting taxpayers in the national dailies.

    “We are calling on the affected taxpayers to come forward to settle their tax debts and failure to do that will lead to prosecution actions being initiated against them,” he said.

    Redeployment

    He revealed that “to ensure the smooth running of our operations, staff from the affected offices have been redeployed to other GRA offices to enable them work effectively and also make it convenient for our taxpayers of the Large Tax Office.”

    Improvement In Tax Revenue

    “The Authority has in the past couple of years fallen short of its revenue target,” he recounted.

    However, he said, tax revenue in 2019 has grown by 12.8? over 2018 collection.

     

    Source: Dailyguidenetwork.com

  • GRA impounds smuggled goods at Balungu Barrier

    The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the Upper East Region has impounded goods that were being smuggled into Ghana from Togo.

    On Sunday, a Yutong bus believed to be coming from Togo and heading towards Bolgatanga, was impounded at the Balungu Barrier in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, Daily Guide reports.

    Read: Sissala East Police impound truckload of Rosewood at Kasana

    The bus with registration number GN 2526-10 had on board textiles, pharmaceuticals, motorbike spare parts, bags of rice, solar lighting and decoders, all of which have no proper customs documentation.

    As Christmas approaches officials of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service say many traders are using various illegal and unapproved means to bring in goods.

    Assistant Commissioner, Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division in the Upper East Region, Baffour Yaw Asare in an interaction with journalists in Bolgatanga ahead of the Christmas festivity, said the removal of the barriers from the roads was just a way of making transportation of goods faster.

    “Even though the barriers were off the roads, importers still have the responsibility to pay their duties and use the right route to get their goods into the country.”

    Read: GRA closes head office of Surfline for not paying taxes

    Mr. Asare was speaking about an operation carried out on Sunday, December 8, by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority which led to the impoundment of the goods.

    According to Mr. Yaw Asare, the goods were being smuggled into the region, for which reason the owner failed to pay the expected duties at the entry border.

    He hinted that due to the high spate of smuggling of goods in and out of the country, it has become necessary to re-activate some of the barriers that were removed.

    It is not clear when the Customs Division of the GRA will be moving to the market to inspect the Excise Levy stamps on imported goods and some locally produced goods.

     

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Fire guts GRA offices near Kwame Nkrumah Circle

    The premises of the Ghana Revenue Authority at Ring Road office in Accra is on fire, www.ghanaweb.com has learnt.

    Unconfirmed reports suggest that personnel of the Fire Service are finding it difficult to access the infrastructure to douse the fire.

    Read: Parts of GRA Circle office gutted by fire

    A thick cloud of smoke can be seen emanating from the building as neighbouring residents of the area look on helplessly.

    More soon…

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • GRA, COCOBOD sued over VAT

    The Ghana Revenue Authority and its Commissioner-General, Ghana COCOBOD and its CEO have been sued by some Agricultural companies over the imposition of Valued Added Tax.

    They allege in the writ that the Ghana Revenue Authority in 2019 wrote to the Ghana COCOBOD directing that it registers the companies for VAT purposes.

    Read: Government must set realistic revenue targets PwC

    The companies in the writ content this smacks of bad faith, unreasonableness, capriciousness and a complete disregard for the law and their economic rights.

    Plaintiffs

    There are 13 Agric companies behind this legal action.

    They include Kuapa Kooko Company limited, Federated Company, Sika Aba Buyers, CDH Commodities limited, Adikanfo Commodities and Olam Ghana limited.

    Reliefs

    Read: Government must set realistic revenue targets PwC

    They want a declaration that the activities of trucking and haulage of agricultural products, including cocoa, coffee and shea nuts in their raw state, form part of a chain of many procedures and processes of the supply of agricultural products in their raw state and therefore exempt from VAT.

    They also want an order of perpetual injunction restraining the GRA, COCOBOD from ever auditing, purporting to audit, assessing or purporting to assess the Plaintiffs for the purposes of charging the Plaintiffs to pay Value Added Tax (VAT).

    They further want the court to order the GRA and COCOBOD to fully indemnify and compensate them adequately on a full cost recovery basis for all Value Added Tax (VAT) purported to be assessed, actually assessed, charged and paid by them.

     

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • GRA confident of meeting revenue target first time in 4 years

    The Ghana Revenue Authority is confident of meeting its revenue target for 2019 having collected more than 70 percent of the target set for this year.

    The Commissioner-General for the Authority, Amishaddai Owusu Amoah, says enough measures have been put in place to ensure that the GH¢45 billion domestic revenue target set by the government is met by close of the year.

    The government has for the past three years struggled to meet its domestic revenue target and this has resulted in cut down in planned expenditure such as spending on infrastructure and other key areas.

    GRA receives GHC32 billion revenue for third quarter

    A strong performance in domestic revenue will grant the government the opportunity of spending in areas such as capital infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, and schools.

    The last time the Ghana Revenue Authority met its domestic revenue target was in 2015 where it exceeded its target by more than GH¢600 million.

    Measures put in place

    Touching on the Value Added Tax (VAT), Mr. Amoah expressed concern about tax infractions by companies, which prevented the country from getting the needed revenue for developmental purposes.

    He said there were serious violations of tax laws, a situation where some companies had falsified VAT invoices and made misleading statements about their tax returns.

    Companies owe GRA GHC5 billion Prof Stephen Adei

    Mr. Amoah said four traders were currently facing prosecution for violating tax laws, urging the public to do well to honor their tax obligations.

    On debt collection, he said most companies owed the GRA and as part of the campaign to retrieve the money, it had written to the organizations to settle their debts or face the full rigours of the law.

    In line with that, the Authority, in September 2019, launched a task force dubbed: “Operation Collect, Name and Shame” aimed at collecting taxes that were overdue and the names of recalcitrant businesses were published in the media to settle their debts.

    The task force was to ensure compliance with companies and individuals who have refused to pay their outstanding taxes.

    “The operation was necessary because revenue performance was low and it was prudent to use all legitimate measures to shore it up,” he said.

    Source: citibusinessnews.com

  • GRA issues new directives on auction of goods at the ports

    The Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) has issued new directives on the auction of items.

    The new directives which were contained in circular outlines the processes through which goods in the custody of the GRA will be disposed of to the public.

    According to the statement, the ratio of the distribution of goods by the GRA will now involve 70 percent allocation to the General Public, while thirty percent goes to the Confiscated Assets Committee.

    Prof. Adei sacks two deputy finance Ministers from GRA board

    In addition, the reserve price shall be two times the duties payable plus 50 percent of the value of the asset. Meanwhile, where the original owner of the asset becomes the beneficiary of the auction, the reserve price will be twice the duties payable only.

    The new directives are to take immediate effect and will apply to all new auction sales or allocation.

    Additionally, all previous allocations or sales not paid for and cleared by their beneficiaries by the end of this month shall be forfeited and allocated or sold at new auctions.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Customs destroy banned and expired goods in Sunyani

    The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has destroyed quantities of banned and expired goods which were intercepted on the Sunyani-Techiman Road in August this year.

    They included 50 packets of assorted pharmaceutical products, 27 packets of assorted sex toys and about 230 cartoons of various brands of cigarettes as well as 369 cartons of various types of expired tooth paste.

    Read: Customs, NACOB seize cocaine concealed in bag

    While labels on some of the products were not done in the English Language, other have expired as far back as February, 2019.

    The items which were concealed among other uncustomed wholesome goods when they were intercepted by officials of the Customs Division of GRA.

    Destruction

    Briefing the media after the destruction of the items, the Sunyani Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr Daniel Mensah said the items destroyed also included quantities of packets of Viagra which were intercepted through the post.

    He explained that owners of some of the goods which were wholesome, but did not pay the required taxes were made to pay 300 per cent of the tax value before they were released to them.

    “We made them to pay the 300 per cent tax value as a punitive measure to deter other traders from engaging in such acts”, he stated explaining that the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value was GHC35, 500.00.

    Mr Mensah said since some of the goods which were intercepted were unwholesome, “it is our duty to destroy them so that they do not enter the market”.

    The Sunyani Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr Daniel Mensah

    He said it was unfortunate that traders flout the law by importing goods that were not sanctioned and others that were expired into the country.

    Read: GRA Customs Division collects GH¢373 million as revenue

    Mr Mensah commended officials through whose vigilance the unwholesome and uncustomed good were intercepted.

    Warning

    He warned traders that officials who had been stationed on the various highways were alert to ensure that such unwholesome goods with adverse health implications were not allowed to enter the Ghanaian market.

    Mr Mensah advised Ghanaians to be vigilant by checking the expiry dates of good that they buy since traders had devise various tricks to sell such unwholesome goods. Goods imported into the country should also be labelled in the English Language and those in other languages should be rejected.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Govt expects great things from Adei as GRA Board chair Ofori-Atta

    The Government of Ghana intends to generate more revenue domestically, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, has said.

    To that end, he said, the government expects the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which has Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Pubic Administration (GIMPA) as its Board chair to put up a great performance as far as revenue mobilization is concerned.

    Read: Stephen Adei has unquestionable integrity, fit to be GRA board chair Ofori-Atta

    Prof Adei was recently appointed the Board Chair of the GRA, replacing Kwame Owusu, who is also a former Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA).

    Speaking to Accra-based Joy FM Monday 7th October, 2019, Mr Ken Ofori Atta said: ““WE have been here for some thirty two odd months and the budget deficit clearly indicates what the capacity restrain on our expenditures is.

    “The roads issues we are going to solve it this year which means that tension will be gone for next year and then we just have to manage.

    “There is a certain firmness at the Ministry of Finance that will go through 2020 to make sure that all of the gains that we have had in these three years will not be eroded.

    Read: Prof Adei proposes establishment of GH¢1bn agric fund

    “So far so good there is pressure on our revenues, we are working on it, we have three new commissioners at the GRA, Prof Stephen Adei has been made the chair and I think we expect great things from that.

    “We intend to increase revenues and certainly hold down our expenditure so that nothing untoward happens. We are excited about the future and the 2020.

    “We met many problems since we came and we have been able to tackle them.”

     

    Source: laudbusiness.com