By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Kasoa (C/R), April 28, GNA – Mrs Cecelia Boafo, the Head of the Kasoa Taxpayer Service Centre (TSC), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has called on the informal sector operators to comply with tax obligations as part of efforts to boost revenue and support national development.
She said most economic activities in Kasoa fell within the informal sector, making it difficult to ensure tax compliance.
The Manager of Kasoa TSC was speaking during an engagement with the traders at the Kasoa new market in the Central Region.
The engagement was on the theme: “Know Your Taxes, Pay Your Taxes, Let’s Build Ghana.”
The engagements formed part of the Tax and Good Governance Month organised by the GRA in April annually.
Mrs Boafo noted that tax compliance remained a major challenge within the informal sector, where many small businesses failed to file returns or pay the required taxes.
She explained that the GRA, in collaboration with its Head Office, had taken the campaign to the doorsteps of traders and small business operators to educate and sensitise them on their responsibilities.
The Manager said the Authority had introduced a Modified Taxation Scheme tailored for small-scale taxpayers, including options such as installment payments and turnover-based taxation, to make compliance easier.
She said under the scheme, some businesses were required to pay a percentage of their annual turnover, adding that the system was an improved version of the previous tax stamp arrangement.
Mrs Boafo expressed concern over low compliance in filing tax returns, noting that many taxpayers were reluctant despite repeated appeals.
She emphasised that taxes remained the backbone of national development, funding infrastructure such as roads, schools and other public services.
She said the GRA had extended its education campaign to institutions such as schools, where some employers were found to be under-declaring Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes.
Mrs Boafo urged all taxpayers to fulfil their obligations, stressing that collective compliance would contribute significantly to building a better Ghana.
Mr. Kwame Damoah-Siakwan, the Deputy Head of Kasoa TSC, GRA, urged individuals and businesses to register with the Authority, stressing that registration remained the first step to ensuring tax compliance.
He noted that the GRA had introduced digital systems to properly register and track taxpayers, replacing previous methods where collections were made without comprehensive records.
He explained that once registered, taxpayers were required to file returns and pay taxes based on the nature of their business, including income tax and employee-related taxes.
Mr. Damoah-Siakwan said employers were mandated by law to deduct Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes from their workers’ salaries and remit them to the Authority, describing them as agents of tax collection.
He warned that failure to deduct and pay such taxes constituted an offence under the law.
Mr Damoah-Siakwan explained that Value Added Tax (VAT) was a consumption tax paid by customers, which businesses were required to collect and remit to the GRA within stipulated timelines.
He emphasised that all tax obligations were guided by law, adding that penalties were imposed on taxpayers who failed to meet filing and payment deadlines.
He urged all income earners to comply with tax regulations, noting that timely payment and filing were essential for effective revenue mobilisation and national development.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah