The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reported a significant boost in its revenue, collecting approximately ¢440 million from e-commerce businesses within just six months.
This surge in revenue is attributed to the implementation of taxes on e-commerce services, introduced in late 2022.
The revelation was made by the Commissioner General of the GRA, Rev. Dr. Ammisshadai Owusu Amoah, during his address at the 11th Annual International Tax Conference held in Accra. The theme of this year’s conference, “Taxation and Economic Development; a Review of Ghana’s Tax Policies,” underscored the pressing need to evaluate the nation’s tax collection strategies.
Rev. Dr. Amoah highlighted that approximately 110 e-commerce firms have registered on the GRA’s online portal and are diligently fulfilling their tax obligations. Notably, this marks a significant increase in the number of businesses complying with tax regulations in the past few months.
The Commissioner General shed light on the mechanism of tax collection from e-commerce platforms, stating, “We have established an online portal through which many online businesses have registered. I’m sure some of you have noticed the Value Added Tax (VAT) applied to Google transactions. In the last six months, we have collected about ¢440 million from some of these e-commerce platforms.”
He further emphasized that e-commerce platforms in Ghana operate through payment providers, which are also required to register with the Central Bank and adhere to specific regulatory requirements.
Senior Presidential Advisor Yaw Osarfo Marfo, representing the President of Ghana, called on the Institute of Taxation Ghana to collaborate with the Ghana Education Service in developing tax education policies.
He shared, “Let us conclude this conference with actionable recommendations. I urge the Institute of Taxation Ghana to establish a partnership with the Ministry of Education to introduce taxation teachings from the basic level. This will instill a sense of patriotism in every citizen, promoting voluntary tax compliance.”
In response to the call for enhanced tax education, the President of the Institute, George Ohene Kwatia, encouraged its members to deepen their understanding of Ghana’s tax laws and actively promote voluntary tax payments.
GRA’s remarkable revenue collection from e-commerce signifies a positive step towards bolstering Ghana’s economic development through efficient tax policies and enforcement.
However, some Ghanaians have expressed distress about the existence of some “nuisance taxes” like the e-levy and covid tax among others.