Ghana Revenue Authority

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Ghana Revenue Authority
Ghana Revenue Authority logo (new).jpg
Ghana Revenue Authority 0557902232 (GRA)

Large Taxpayer Office, VAT House Ring Road Central
Agency overview
Formed2009; 12 years ago (2009)
Preceding agencies
HeadquartersOff Starlets' 91 Road, near Accra Sports Stadium
5°33′06″N 0°11′31″W / 5.55153°N 0.19194°W / 5.55153; -0.19194Coordinates: 5°33′06″N 0°11′31″W / 5.55153°N 0.19194°W / 5.55153; -0.19194
MottoIntegrity, Fairness and Service
Agency executives
  • Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, AG. Commissioner - General
  • Ms. Julia Essiam, AG. Commissioner - Support Service Division
  • Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), AG. Commissioner - Customs Division
  • Mr. Edward Gyambrah, Officer-in-Charge, Domestic Tax Revenue Division
Parent agencyMinistry of Finance
Websitewww.gra.gov.gh

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is the Ghana administration charged with the task of assessing, collecting and accounting for tax revenue in Ghana.[1] The core mandate of the Authority is to ensure maximum compliance with relevant laws in order to ensure a sustainable revenue stream for government as well as the controlled and safe flow of goods across the county’s borders.[2]

As part of efforts to improve compliance, the Authority is required to assist taxpayers to understand and meet their tax obligations by providing robust and comprehensive advice.

Since its inception the GRA has integrated the four revenue institutions namely the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Value Added Tax Service (VATS) and the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB).[1]

History[]

In December 2009, the four revenue agencies that is CEPS, IRS, VAT Service and RAGB Secretariat were merged in accordance with the Ghana Revenue Authority Act, 2009 (Act 791).[3][4] GRA thus replaces the revenue agencies in the administration of taxes and customs duties in the country.[3]

GRA has been established to amongst others integrate the management of domestic tax and customs duties as well as modernise domestic tax and customs operations through the review of processes and procedures in revenue administration with information communication technology as the backbone.

The establishment of the GRA is part of the reforms in revenue administration of tax collection in Ghana which began in the mid-eighties when CEPS and IRS were taken out of the Civil Service and made semi- autonomous and self-accounting public sector institutions with separate boards. The National Revenue Secretariat (NRS) was set up to formulate revenue policies, manage tax reforms and supervise the activities of CEPS and IRS.[5]

In 1998, the VAT Service was established to administer VAT and other consumption taxes. RAGB also began operations in 2001 to supervise and monitor the operations of the revenue agencies.[6] In 2002, the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) was introduced to enhance information interchange and risk profiling. Then in 2004, the Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) was set up to operate on functional lines as a pilot programme for the future integration of tax administration in Ghana as well as to serve the needs of large taxpayers as a one-stop-shop operation.[1]

It was envisaged that the integration of the revenue agencies will bring the following benefits to taxpayers and the revenue administration.

  • Reduced administrative and tax compliance cost
  • Better service delivery
  • Improved departmental information flow.
  • Holistic approach to domestic tax and customs administration
  • Enhanced revenue mobilisation [7]

Organizational structure[]

A nine-member governing Board of Directors, consisting of both public and private sector experts, makes policy decisions to be implemented by GRA Management. The Board also makes recommendations to the Minister of Finance on tax policy, reforms and legislations.

The Chairman of the Board as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority called the Commissioner-General are appointed by the President of the Republic of Ghana.

The Authority has three main divisions, namely Customs Division (CD) Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) and Support Services Division (SSD) which are all headed by Commissioners.[4]

Functions[]

Ghana Revenue Authority has been charged to perform amongst others, the following functions as enacted by Act 791:

  • Assess and collect taxes, interest and penalties on taxes due to the state with optimum efficiency;[8]
  • Pay the amounts collected into the Consolidated Fund[8]
  • Promote tax compliance and tax education;[8]
  • Combat tax fraud and evasion and co-operate to that effect with other competent law enforcement agencies and revenue agencies in other countries;[8]
  • Advise District Assemblies on the assessment and collection of their revenue;[8]
  • Prepare and publish reports and statistics related to its revenue collection;[8]
  • Make recommendations to the Minister on revenue collection policy[9]

Tax policy environment[]

Tax revenue generation is based on clearly defined tax policy measures. GRA remains a key partner of the Tax Policy Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (Ghana). This collaboration which is complemented by tapping the expertise of stakeholders drawn across several economic and social sectors is geared toward formulation of effective and sustainable policies designed to enhance tax revenue collection by the Authority.[citation needed]

Taxpayers[]

Taxpayers registered with GRA are segmented into three identifiable groups that is Large, Medium and Small based on defined criteria. Taxpayers with an annual turnover of over GH¢5 million are classified as large taxpayers.[10] This category also includes specialist industries irrespective of their turnover. These are upstream and midstream petroleum companies, banking institutions, insurance companies, mining companies and quarries, and members of groups of companies where at least one member qualifies as a large taxpayer.

Taxpayers within the turnover bracket of GH¢90,000 up to GH¢5million are categorized as medium taxpayers while those with an annual turnover of less than GH¢90,000 are classified as small taxpayers.[10]

Introduction of Uni-Pass clearance system[]

On 21 February 2020,personnel and logistics were distributed by the Customs Division, to test the Uni-Pass clearance system at the Takoradi Port.[11][10][12] This system handles all paperwork and payments at one point, an improvement on the previous system, which processed all the operations in several offices.[13][14][15] This was after its successful implementation at the Aflao Collection Point in the Volta region.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "|| Ghana Revenue Authority ||". egovonline.gegov.gov.gh. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  2. ^ "Ghana Revenue Authority". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "GRA - Ghana Revenue Authority - Services | MDA". www.epay.gov.gh. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "About Us – GRA". Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  5. ^ http://ir.knust.edu.gh/bitstream/123456789/9174/1/Kwame%20Asamoah%20Mensah.pdf
  6. ^ http://ir.knust.edu.gh/bitstream/123456789/4459/1/Tetteh%20Emmanuel%20Gidisu.pdf
  7. ^ "GRA Management and Personnel Changes | Ministry of Finance | Ghana". www.mofep.gov.gh. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f https://gra.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/gra_act.pdf
  9. ^ "About Us – GRA". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c World, Business (2012-10-03). "GRA to group taxpayer offices". Business World Ghana. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  11. ^ "UNIPASS pilot at Takoradi Port set for Feb 21". Ghanaian Times. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  12. ^ "GCNet, West Blue Consulting shut down". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  13. ^ "UNIPASS explains benefits of new customs management system to Ghana's ports". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  14. ^ "Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority". www.ghanaports.gov.gh. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  15. ^ "Ahenkorah projects 30% increase in revenue as benefits expected from UNIPASS, others". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  16. ^ "GRA pilots new clearing system at Takoradi Port". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
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