Unit to be set for large taxpayers

As part of Government's revenue mobilisation programme, a new unit responsible for large taxpayers is to be set up soon under the Revenue Agencies Governing Board.

The unit is to offer taxpayers who make big contribution to the national coffers improve service in the discharge of their tax obligations to reduce their cost, Brigadier Richardson Baiden, Commissioner for the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), said on Wednesday

He said the programme was essentially for the payment of domestic taxes and administered by the Internal Revenue Service and the Value Added Tax Service (VATS).

Brigadier Baiden was addressing a Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Executive Business Seminar that discussed "the implications of tax administration in 2003 to business" held in Accra on Wednesday.

Management personnel from banks, trade, commerce and manufacturing industries attended the seminar.

He said the payment of import taxes was not to be directly brought under the unit.

The Customs Commissioner said that a programme was being designed through which a selected number of few large importers who have exhibited a high level of compliance to Customs laws would be provided 'fast track' treatment through the Customs.

"This is the Gold Card programme and it is to give recognition those who have over the years shown the way that success comes better through compliance and have made very significant contribution to the consolidated fund", Brig. Baiden said.

Brig. Baiden said various fraudulent practices, including fake invoices, collusion with overseas suppliers, some CEPS officials and inspection companies constituted prosecutable crimes.

"The excess profit we illegally make by cutting corners gets siphoned away in paying for additional taxes that are imposed to make up for lost revenue to government", he added.

Mr Ken Bentsi-Enchill, VAT official said Ghana's adoption of the VAT was to fulfil the ECOWAS protocol at the sub-regional body's 19th session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

It called specifically for the abolition of discriminatory border taxes for the adoption of a consumer tax called Value Added Tax by the year 1999.

He said the declared objectives indicated clearly that VAT would remain the vehicle for ensuring the non-importation and non-exportation of Domestic Direct Taxes and smooth inter-regional trade.