UER: Tax Defaulters to apply for Waivers- GRA

   The Manager of the Bolgatanga Taxpayer Service Centre (BTSC) Bismark Shaibu Mahama

The Manager of the Bolgatanga Taxpayer Service Centre (TSC) of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Bismark Shaibu Mahama, has urged tax defaulters to apply for waivers as the 2022 budget has offered a window of opportunity to redeem their indebtedness.

This came to light in an exclusive interview with our Correspondent Emmanuel Akayeti in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Region. Mr. Mahama disclosed that the Penalty and Interest Wavier Act, 2021 (Act 1065) referred to in this act as the “Principal enchantment”, is amended in section one by the substitution for subsection 1 of 1 where a person on or before 30^th June 2022, pay tax arrears to the Ghana Revenue Authority, files outstanding returns in respect of the previous year up to December 2020, the Commissioner-General shall not recover assessed penalty and interest of the tax arrears paid in respect of the relevant period.

Mr. Mahama indicated that the budget this year has rather given taxpayers relief in terms of their individual taxes or the income they earn from their individual businesses or as employees of organizations. He said the marginal relief threshold for all individuals has been increased from GHC 319 a month to GHC 365.

What this means Mr. Mahama explained further that as a registered member, whatever income earned either from employment or from business, after SSNIT deduction of 5.5 percent, there is a relief of up to GHC 365 that will not be taxed on the remaining amount. He added that this element of the relief used to be GHC 319 but has now been raised to GHC 365 a difference of about GHC 46 disposable income to the individual who earns less.

Regarding the waiver of penalty and interest, he said the period has also been extended from last 30^th September 2021, now one can apply for the waiver up to 30^th June 2022, this year.

Mr. Mahama stated that for all defaulters of incomes tax law up to the period 31^st December 2020, the law has also given them a window of opportunity to file their applications for waiver up to June 2022.

He admonished tax defaulters especially in the Upper East Region to take advantage adding that, they should try to redeem themselves by filing their returns within the set period and pay what is due or make sufficient arrangements to file their returns and GRA will waiver the penalties and interest for you.