TIN registration will go on after deadline – GRA

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has debunked claims expressed by some individuals and businesses that failure to get a Tax Identification Number (TIN) by end of March this year will deny them the opportunity to do so later.

The Commissioner-General of GRA,Emmanuel Kofi Nti in a press briefing in Accra, Tuesday, April 3rd said, the registration for the TIN will not be closed at GRA offices after the deadline – only that those who do not have the TIN will no longer have access to some public services beginning April 1, 2018.

The directive requires all businesses and individuals to obtain a TIN before they are able to conduct official business in the country.

"Beginning April 1, 2018, a person cannot open a bank account, file a case in court, acquire a passport or obtain a driving license without the TIN", he explained.

He added that,"without it, a person cannot also register a vehicle, clear goods in commercial quantities from the ports or register any title to land or any document affecting land".

Mr. Nti said, other services for which the TIN is needed to access include: obtaining a certificate to commence business at the Registrar General’s Department or any District Assembly office; receiving any payment from the Controller and Accountant General or a District Assembly in respect of a contract for the supply of any goods or provisions of any services.

The TIN is a unique identification number issued to taxpayers for official transactions, and the GRA has said it wants to use this strategy to widen the tax net for domestic revenue generation.

This comes at a time where the Nana Addo led government has consistently said it would find innovative means of generating domestic revenue to finance its activities.