GRA Taskforce Questioning a Shop Manager
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Taskforce has arrested three shop managers of some stores in Accra for breaching Section 41 of the VAT Act.
Section 41 of the VAT Act 2013, (Act 820) states that every registered VAT taxpayer is required to issue an electronic VAT invoice with details prescribed by the Commissioner General when they provide services and supply goods.
According to the Head of Accra Central Enforcement Unit, GRA, Joseph Annan, Buildmart Ghana limited at Adabraka, Bedarts Cold Supplies at Lashibi, Yat ventures at Mamobi, and Excellence Boutique at Spintex were identified for not issuing VAT invoices to customers upon investigation, thus, prompting the agency to arrest the managers.
“In all these cases they have been arrested, the CID will take them to the Charge Office for their statements to be taken, when they are done they will come to my office where the punitive assessment will be established and they have to pay immediately. After that, we will recommend them for full audit while the CID also continues with their investigations,” he stated.
He added that the exercise has been on-going for nine months and so far, 48 shops have been flagged for not complying with section 41 of the VAT Act.
Mr. Annan further explained that the arrests are not done abruptly and that investigations take place before any arrests are made.
“We started with test purchase where we come in unnoticed and buy from you to test whether you are voluntarily complying. Once you fail that test, the next process is to arrest you for non-compliance,” he shared.
The exercise is expected to continue throughout the city.
By Abigail Atinuke Seyram Adeyemi