Coronavirus: GRA, Finance Ministry discuss new 2020 revenue target

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said the Authority is working with the Ministry of Finance towards setting a new, lower revenue target for the year 2020.

Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah said the move has become necessary as the COVID-19 outbreak will certainly make the country’s budgetary revenue target of GHc55 billion for this year unattainable.

The Commissioner-General is optimistic that proposed new measures, when rolled out, would ensure a win-win situation for government and taxpayers.

Meanwhile, the GRA has encouraged taxpayers to continue to file their tax returns online and make payments through the banks.

The Authority appealed to all taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations to meet government’s needs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We will not relent in our efforts to deliver on our mandates. We will do all we can to ensure that the needed revenue is generated to meet government’s agenda as we all put our shoulders to the wheel to fight the pandemic,” he said.

The GRA is also set to soon launch a digital platform that would allow taxpayers to access their Tax Identification Number and relevant data from the comfort of their homes.

He said the Authority supported the President’s interventions to lessen the impact of the coronavirus on individuals and businesses.

According to the Commissioner General, all efforts would be made to facilitate payment of taxes during the COVID-19 outbreak, but would not allow deliberate non-payment of taxes.

“We acknowledge the hard times in which we are as a nation and the world as a whole. We sympathize sincerely with those who have lost their jobs or sources of income.

“We also pray that as a nation, we will continue to support President Akufo-Addo and the government to ensure that the nation comes out of the situation quickly”, he said.

He entreated employees, corporate and other institutions who continue to make various incomes, sales and provide services to file and pay their taxes for government to get the needed revenue.