Accra, Dec. 22, -The Government
of Ghana is to grant a tax amnesty for a period of eight months, beginning
January 31, 2017 and ending August 31, 2018.
After the amnesty period, the
Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) would be embarking on a vigorous campaign to
ensure compliance, including court actions.
According to the Report of the
Finance Committee of Parliament on the Tax Amnesty Bill 2017, adopted by the
House, the Government is introducing the amnesty to exempt taxpayers, who
register and file returns within the targeted period from paying penalties and
interests for late submission or non-submission of returns as well as
non-payment of taxes.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, Chairman
of the Finance Committee of Parliament, presenting the report recalled that, as
per the Budget Statement, Government’s policy is to reduce taxes on the
ordinary Ghanaian
“The reduction can be achieved if
the tax base is broadened.
“The measure therefore is to help
broaden the tax base and improve compliance. This would help accelerate growth
of the Private Sector and generate jobs, “he said.
Deputy Minister of Finance Kwaku
Kwarteng at the Finance Committee sitting observed that a significant number of
taxpayers fail to file returns with average filing rates below 50 per cent.
Further, the sanctions and penalties are quite stringent and that deter taxpayers
from coming forward voluntarily to file returns and make outstanding payments.
The GRA, according to the report
has done a lot of work to update its database on taxpayers, and the Authority
now has information on teachers, lawyers, members of all professional bodies
and doctors among others.
The amnesty is to give them the opportunity
to come to the Authority and file their returns. After the period, the
Authority would go after defaulters.
The Bill, passed under a
certificate of urgency has eight clauses, among which are amnesty for taxes,
penalties and interests, and prohibits the Commissioner General from assessing
or recovering taxes, penalties and interest in respect of previous years up to
and including the 2017 year of assessment.
Clause Two deals with amnesty for
penalties and interests and prohibits the Commissioner-General from assessing
or recovering penalties in respect of the previous year’s up to, and including
the 2017 year of assessment from a person where that person submits returns or
amended returns containing previously undisclosed liabilities up to the 2017
year of assessment on or before 30th September, 2018 and pays all assessed and
outstanding taxes.
Clause Three provides the scope
of tax amnesty; Clause Four deals with the application of tax amnesty and
specifies the time frame, requirements and procedure for applying the tax
amnesty.
In Clause Five, there is
provision for complaints and determination of complaints; while Clause Six
deals with payment terms; Clause Seven deals with tax remission and Clause
Eight provides for administrative guidelines.
The House, meanwhile adjourned on
Friday for the Christmas and New Year Break. The House would resume sitting on
January 23, 2018.
GNA
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