By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, May 22, GNA - Assistant Commissioner Mr Joseph Asare, the Accra East Area Director of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has said the government does not take pride in penalising businesses for non-compliance with tax regulations.
Assistant Commissioner Asare said the government’s primary goal was to support businesses to comply voluntarily with tax obligations, not to burden them with penalties, saying that the application of sanctions was required by law and not a deliberate attempt to frustrate businesses.
He made this known during an engagement with the business community on Sustainability Growth Levy Compliance at Tema Community-Nine, Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
He said the penalties served as a deterrent to prevent late payments and ensured that all eligible businesses contributed their fair share to the national purse and therefore urged businesses to promptly honour their tax obligations to avoid unnecessary charges.
Assistant Commissioner Asare said the GRA had introduced an online portal system to make tax filing and payments more accessible and efficient, saying that this system eliminates the need for physical visits to tax offices and simplifies the entire tax process, although they could visit the offices when they faced challenges.
He encouraged businesses to be proactive and not wait until the deadline before making payments, adding that even though the law required quarterly payment, they could also consider paying monthly to better manage their finances and avoid last-minute delays.
“The fact that it is quarterly payments does not mean waiting until the end of the quarter; you can further break it into months,” he stated.
Assistant Commissioner Asare noted that businesses often incur additional costs simply by delaying their payments and cautioned them against the tendency to wait until the end of the financial year to settle tax obligations, as this often leads to accumulated interest and penalty fees.
He gave an assurance that the GRA was fully committed to helping taxpayers navigate the new system, while encouraging businesses to seek assistance where necessary and keep their tax records up to date.
He reiterated that the government’s focus was on building a strong and self-reliant economy through efficient tax mobilisation, not by levying punitive fines on struggling businesses.
GNA
22 May 2025
Edited by Laudia Sawer/Christabel Addo