The GRA taskforce at one of the shops
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has arrested managers of four hardware and retail shops in Weija-Kasoa for non-compliance with Value Added Tax (VAT) regulations.
The managers of Eve’s Wholesale Price, Modern Floors Hardware, Cup of Joy Ventures and Qinqsong Company limited, were arrested for either failing to issue VAT Invoices or the selective issuance of the invoice.
Their shops were also closed during a monitoring exercise to the area.
The exercise forms part of GRA’s effort to promote voluntary tax compliance and ensure compliance for the same, especially amongst Micro, Small, and Medium-sized businesses.
Assistant Commissioner and Head of the Accra Regional Enforcement Unit at the GRA, Joseph Annan, said his authority will not relent till maximum compliance is achieved.
“Those that we have done in the past, we will visit every one of them to know whether they are complying. For those who declared their profits but fail to pay, we will also come after you.”
On the prosecution of apprehended business owners, Mr. Anan asserted that many entities have been processed for court.
“The Criminal Investigative Department is still investigating the cases. We have done our bit and handed them over to the police to be processed for court”, he added.
He furthered that the process has led to an upscale in VAT compliance and consequently boosted domestic revenue levels.
“Indeed, the VAT collections have seen significant growth of more than 90%, from GH¢646 million in 2022 compared to GH¢1.2 billion in the first five months of this year,” he said.
He concluded that the GRA will continue to conduct random checks to ensure voluntary compliance with Value Added Tax by increasing its enforcement exercises in other parts of the country.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri