Ghanaians asked to assist VAT recover taxes

Sunyani (B/A), May 14, GNA - Ghanaians, particularly consumers of the Value Added Tax Service (VAT), have been urged to volunteer information to the Service to enable it to recover taxes that otherwise would have been lost to the state in return for a handsome reward. As part of efforts to maximize revenue mobilization, the service had initiated informant award system for persons who would assist in identifying traders and business operators, who would fail to register with VAT and others, who would fail to issue invoices to customers as a way of invading tax.

Mrs. Agnes A. Adu-Boateng, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of VAT, made the call at one-day tax seminar for 150 religious leaders drawn from the region, in Sunyani on Thursday.

The event that was jointly organised by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and VAT, was the third in the series nationwide under the theme "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's", aimed at educating the participants on taxation obligations, rights and responsibilities of religious bodies and leaders on Ghana's taxation system.

Mrs. Adu-Boateng called on Ghanaians to register their businesses and pay their taxes promptly.

Mr. Kwasi Bobie Ansah, Chief Inspector, Public Relations and Tax Education of the IRS, who spoke on the topic "introduction, rights and obligations, reliefs, filling of returns, gifts tax" explained that taxable gift included buildings of a permanent or temporary nature, land, shares, bonds and other securities. He also said money, including foreign currency, business and business assets, any means of transportation among others also formed part of taxable gift.

Mr Ansah urged the participants to consider it as a moral obligation to declare their taxes on any gift, beside that of their official remunerations.

Speaking on the topic "type of returns, rent tax, withholding taxes, exempt organization, income of target group, responsibility of target group" Mr. Francis E.K Akoto, Chief Inspector of taxes of the IRS, said religious bodies were required to "disclose all their income that are not related to their core functions of providing ecclesiastical services and accordingly pay taxes on them".