Accra, Dec. 12, – The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched intensified tax compliance and enforcement drives across the country to tackle surging non-compliance, according to Mr. Joseph Annan Adjeikwei, Assistant Commissioner for Accra Area Enforcement.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, Mr. Annan highlighted a troubling pattern: many taxpayers submit returns just to dodge penalties but skip payments. Others have quit filing despite ongoing business, or report far below their obligations.
“For some time now, we relaxed our enforcement mandate to encourage voluntary compliance through education. But we realised many taxpayers are taking advantage of the system. They file but do not pay, they under-declare, or they stop filing altogether,” he said.
He noted that after field assessments in early 2024 revealed widespread violations needing more resources, the GRA added staff starting November to ramp up inspections and secure full tax law adherence.
The crackdown involves arrests and prosecutions based on offense severity. Operations occur around the clock, seven days a week, targeting all taxes like Personal Income Tax (PIT), Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), excise, and Communications Service Tax (CST).
Mr. Annan stressed the GRA's unwavering commitment, warning that no tax system works without penalties. “If one person violates the law and walks free, others will follow. Our message is simple, we are out there, and taxpayers must do the right thing,” he said.
He called on media to help spread awareness of these ongoing efforts, now a core part of the GRA's national strategy. “You never know when we will visit your business and this programme is not ending anytime soon,” he added.
On last year's arrests of non-compliant foreign firms, Mr. Annan explained no prosecutions followed as it was the GRA's initial large-scale operation. Management offered amnesty but demanded full payment of dues.
This year's push will be tougher post-sensitization campaigns, he said. Persistent violators face heavy legal action as "delinquents."
Quantifying losses proves challenging due to the issue's breadth, but Mr. Annan called them substantial – some owe millions based solely on their filings. “It will not be scientific to put out a figure now, but what we can say for sure is that the nation is losing so much. And this is from only a small sample of businesses we have visited,” he noted.
The GRA aims to collect over GH¢30 billion this month, including recoveries from prior shortfalls. Mr. Annan vowed sustained nationwide enforcement to lift revenue and compliance.
GHBUSS
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