GRA chases construction firm over GHC 5m tax

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a garnishee order to Allied Oil Limited, seeking to collect all outstanding monies that the company has to pay a construction firm by name Ace Façade.

This follows the failure of the construction firm to pay tax of over GHC 5 million, part of which is in respect of aluminium panels it imported to install on an ultramodern office complex belonging to Allied Oil.

Ace Façade, upon a visit by the GRA’s Special Taskforce to the building site at Dzorwulu, had abandoned the project without paying the applicable tax.

According to the GRA, the unpaid taxes span a period of two years, comprising income tax, workers’ Pay As You Earn, withholding tax for services rendered and penalties on late payment.

Briefing journalists at the project site, Chief Revenue Officer at the GRA, John Yaw Boaben, said: “Allied Oil engaged the services of Ace Facade Limited to install aluminium panel system on its office project in Accra but the construction firm failed to pay tax.

The directors of Ace Facade Limited have, since 2014 to 2016, evaded tax to the tune of GHC 5.1 million and have absconded, hence the need to serve Allied Oil Company with the order.”

According to Mr. Boaben, should it be determined that Allied Oil owes no money to Ace Façade, the GRA will liaise with Interpol and the Nigerian Revenue Authority to help track down the company to face the appropriate sanctions.

The distress action is being carried out in line with the laws of the GRA to get defaulting taxpayers to pay their taxes whilst encouraging other businesses to voluntarily fulfill their revenue obligations to the state.

“Organisations must do well to pay their taxes to the authority to avoid any form of embarrassment because the distress action is always the last resort after negotiations with tax defaulters have failed,” Mr Boaben said.

“We have data of all defaulting companies and so we want them to voluntarily come and clear their tax liabilities,” he advised.