Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Thursday launched three initiatives of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), including the Electronic Tax Compliance Certificate (E-TCC), to promote tax payment and increase domestic revenue mobilisation.
The other initiatives are the Tax Compliance Short Code *880#, and Online Tax Returns Filing.
These are also aimed at making tax compliance and payments easy and convenient at the comfort of the home or office.
For instance, the E-TCC is documentary evidence issued by the Commissioner-General of GRA to confirm that the taxpayer is up to date with payments and has met all applicable tax obligations at the date of issue.
These electronic systems would enable taxpayers to seamlessly and conveniently use the GRA’s taxpayers’ portal (www.taxpayersportal.com) to file their tax returns, apply for tax compliance certificates, and make payments using their personal computers, mobile phones or tablets.
At the launch of the initiatives in Accra, Vice President Bawumia said it would provide a shift in attitude towards tax payments and enhance compliance in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
These will help promote transparency and accountability as well as minimise corruption in the country.
Dr Bawumia said taxes were the lifeblood of any country, which helped to build nations and, thus, lauded the GRA for buying into the government’s digitalisation agenda to promote national development and economic growth.
The Vice President expressed confidence that the initiatives would assist in increasing Ghana’s tax-to-GDP ratio of 13 percent to 18-20 percent within the shortest possible time.
“When we faithfully declare our taxes, we’ll be in a position to hold the government accountable on what our tax money is being used for.
Let us join hands together to develop our country,” he said.
Dr Bawumia declared April as ‘Tax and Good Governance Month’ and urged the GRA to pay attention to individuals and businesses who did not file their tax returns to widen the country’s tax net.
He highlighted some of the Government’s digitalisation programmes that had made a tremendous impact on revenue collection efforts.
The Ghana.gov portal, digital property addressing system, Ghana-Card, paperless port system, and the mobile money interoperability payment system, which had placed Ghana on top of the financially inclusive nations in Africa, are examples.
Reverend Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the Commissioner-General, GRA, in his welcome remarks, said the Authority, in 2019, embarked on a transformational agenda, focusing on three key pillars – people, technology and service.
The Authority, for instance, began leveraging on technology to identify and simplify procedures and processes for tax payments.
He, therefore, entreated taxpayers and businesses to embrace the GRA’s digital portals to file tax returns, initiate payments, and access other tax-related services.
Mr Theophilus Kwesi Ehun, a Senior Revenue Officer, Domestic Tax Revenue Division, educated the public on the uses and benefits of the three new initiatives.
