Gov’t goes electronic to ensure tax compliance

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced the use of big data analytics to identify and register additional taxpayers to improve filing rates and revenue receipts. According to Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, who made this known during his presentation of the midyear budget review on Thursday, the electronic enables the GRA to integrate various data sources to identify recalcitrant tax payers for compliance and enforcement actions. He added that the move also makes it easier for tax payers to file their taxes electronically without going through the stress of moving to GRA offices to do so. “To improve the ease of doing business in the country, a number of electronic applications are being developed to enable taxpayers conduct businesses with the GRA online.” Ken Ofori Atta further said the GRA has put measures in place to allow tax payers to transact business at the comfort of their homes and offices using varied platforms. “Taxes can be paid through available bank transfer systems and discussions are currently ongoing with Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) for additional electronic platforms for the payment of taxes.” “This will enable small tax payers pay their taxes using mobile money,” Ken Ofori Atta added. He said a lot of business owners have evaded filing their taxes over the years and this makes it difficult for revenue collectors to mobilize tax to be used by the government for developmental projects. This he added makes it difficult for the government to raise funds to support some of its projects, hence the introduction of the data analytics to identify and register tax payers. This means everyone doing business, including petty traders and business owners who resort to social media to sell their goods cannot evade the payment of tax. The electronic system will replace the manual system, and capture all business owners and help remove all errors which in turn will make work easy for the GRA. By Patricia Selassie Apietu| 3news.com| Ghana]]>