The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a passionate appeal to the media, seeking a sustained partnership to foster a robust tax compliance culture, described as the vital “oxygen” needed to run the nation.
Assistant Commissioner Dominic D. Naab who made the call recently contrasted Ghana’s approach with stricter regimes and argued that in some countries those who evade paying tax are even punished.
He acknowledged the inherent challenge in the payment of tax but stressed that taxation is non-negotiable for national survival.
Read: GRA Commissioner calls for stronger media partnership to boost tax education
“The only oxygen that we need to be able to run this country is the taxes. So we just have to work hard to be able to promote tax-paying culture and also to make sure that we pay,” he stressed.
Mr. Naab positioned the media as indispensable allies in this important national assignment to actually ensure that every person gets to know about the reason to actually pay taxes and defined the benefits of this partnership as socio-economic development.
He praised past media support but pleaded for consistency and sustained relationship that will not die any time soon and challenged the media to also generate compelling, positive narratives stating about the revenue authority.
The Assistant Commissioner tackled common complaints like “double taxation” and perceptions of harassment, particularly concerning VAT and stressed it is the consumer who pays the tax, not the seller.
He clarified taxpayer obligations to include registration for a unique Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and relevant tax types, filing accurate returns, timely payment, and crucially, honest income disclosure, citing Article 41(j) of the Constitution. He stressed that all employees must file returns by April 30th annually, noting that even GRA labourers comply.
Speaking about incentives for compliance, Dominic Naab detailed significant reliefs available to taxpayers who file returns including Marriage Relief, ¢1,200; Responsibility Relief (for 2+ children), ¢1,200; Child Education Relief (up to 3 children), ¢600 per child; Old Age Relief (60+ & working), ¢1,500; Dependent Relative Relief (60+), ¢1,000 per relative; Disability Relief, 25% of chargeable income and more.
He stated that these benefits should be known to people and urged the media to advertise the benefits so Ghanaians would know that fulfilling their responsibility also comes with some rights that they have to benefit.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan/thenewsbulletin24.com