GRA launches policy to pursue recalcitrant taxpayers

Company News of Thursday, May 2, 2019

Source: citibusinessnews.com

2019-05-02

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will use the lawsuits as the main weapon against tax non-compliance, evasion and fraud.

The GRA therefore asks income earners, potential and existing recalcitrant taxpayers to change their methods, as its policy of prosecution will deal with people who violate the country's tax laws.

The policy outlines the circumstances in which tax and customs violators can be prosecuted and also standardizes GRA's prosecution processes and procedures.

According to GRA, the launch of this policy is part of the measures to fulfill its basic mandate of mobilizing revenue for national development.

The policy is intended to be used by all GRA officials enforcing the laws governing taxes in Ghana.

Speaking at the launch of the policy in Kumasi, the Commissioner General of GRA, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, stressed that his team will not use the new strategy to harbad taxpayers.

"The lawsuits will be used to supplement the administrative actions provided for in the tax laws in case of non-compliance in order to ensure a steady and regular flow of income to the national coffers," he added.

Mr. Kofi Nti said that the prosecution of taxpayers under the policy would be conducted in accordance with ethical and professional standards, transparency and accountability, in order to achieve the most appropriate results. effective.

DFID provides technical support and capacity building for prosecutors and investigators, as well as the logistics needed to implement the policy.

The courts, the Office of Economic and Organized Crime (EOCO), the National Investigation Bureau (BNI), the police and other public bodies are among the key stakeholders in the effective implementation of politics.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, urged the judiciary to expedite the hearing of such cases of prosecution when they appear before them.

Osei Mensah also invited the GRA to launch an intensive awareness campaign to raise citizens' awareness of Ghana's tax laws.

Michael Ayensu, Director of Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Finance, called on the GRA to intensify its tax training to ensure public compliance.