PwC calls for national dialogue on widening tax net
A Tax Partner of accounting and auditing firm, PwC, Mr Abeku Gyan Quansah, has called for a national conversation on how to rope in the informal sector into the tax net.
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Although the expansion of the tax net has featured in almost every government’s budget, Mr Quansah said very little had been done to achieve it.
He made the call at a breakfast meeting on the economic outlook for 2019, which was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana (AMCHAM). The presentation was on the 2019 budget, taxes, import duties and fees.
TIN registration
He said the government’s initiative to ensure that every individual had a tax identification number (TIN) was, however, a right step to formalise the economy.
“The government has started linking data to the national identification scheme (NIS) and this is good because it will help to easily identify people. This will also enable the government to have
“Having a TIN does not necessarily mean you will pay taxes, but it means you can be identified in the country’s data and this is a good starting point,” he added.
He, however, advised the government to set up TIN registration desks at NIS registration centre’s to ensure that people would get their TIN numbers and NIS cards at the same time.
Tax compliance
Mr Quansah also advised individuals and businesses to be compliant in their tax obligations to the country.
“You and I chose to belong to a society and the question is, do we want to have a common expenditure? If yes, then how do we finance that expenditure?” he asked.
“If we don’t have all the companies to generate income for us, then we must contribute mainly by way of taxes. I believe that the right thing must be done, otherwise we will cripple this economy,” he added.
GRA measures
Mr Quansah also commended the Ghana Revenue Authority for some of the measures it had instituted to ensure compliance.
He cited the Electronic Point of Sales Device (EPOS) and the Integrated Tax Preparation Software (
He also pointed out the deployment of National Service Personnel and NABCo personnel in the revenue module which he believes will help ensure compliance in the tax mobilisation and also help in widening the tax net.
Indiscipline
The
He said the major challenge of the country was indiscipline, which had eaten into all facets of the country and needed to be checked if the country would make any progress in revenue mobilisation and the overall management of the economy.
Mr Mensah also urged businesses to take advantage of the opportunities in the economy this year and turn around their companies for the better.