Task Force go get trillion cedis before December 15

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Monday inaugurated a special revenue mobilization task force that would improve and expedite action on its revenue collection to meet national targets. The force, which would operate up till December 15, soon after its inauguration embarked on distress action where it closed down Classfarm Pharmacy at Kantamanto and Osekan Beach Resort, near James Town, both in Accra.

Classfarm owes 429 million cedis whilst Osekan owes over 175 million cedis.

Inaugurating the force, Mr John Sotenga, Deputy Commissioner (Operations) of IRS said about one trillion cedis had been targeted to be collected throughout the exercise.

He advised the members of the task force to exercise good sense of discretion and uphold integrity in their work.

Major Daniel Sowa Ablorh-Quarcoo (Rtd), Commissioner of IRS, said, as at September this year, the cumulative collection rose to 4.9 trillion cedis as against a cumulative target of 5.3 trillion cedis. Major Ablorh-Quarcoo said: 93The current poor performance is alarming considering the present financial constraint, low retention ratio and high expectations of staff."

He said the task force would monitor and strengthen the collection machinery to improve the overall revenue mobilisation through effective application of strategies to block leakage in the system. They would also ensure that the tax net was broadened.

Major Ablorh-Quarcoo said the task force would also support collectors at the District offices by applying reasonable aggressive methods to compel debtors to settle their outstanding tax arrears. Mr Theophilus Gaskin, Coordinator of the task force, announced that a questionnaire and other formats had been designed to facilitate taxpayer information and collection reporting which would be made available to leaders of the various task force teams.