The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has highlighted a number of additional e-levy fees after the commencement of the common platform’s full deployment.
Previously, the Authority had claimed that it was building a unified platform that would record all transactions to enable e-levy deductions. Prior to the complete implementation on a unified platform, phase one of the tax implementation permitted clients to enjoy certain exemptions per wallet and per account.
For instance, a customer with two different accounts was able to enjoy some exemption if they send GH₵100 twice using different accounts to other people.
With the complete adoption of the shared platform, there would be no fee exemptions for wallet-to-account transactions.
Isaac Amoako, a member of the e-levy implementation committee, has outlined some of the new fees:
- “Once the common platform is operating functionally and fully when you send the first ₵100 that is granted, you realise in the phase one the exemption was being enjoyed per wallet, per account so if you have two wallets you basically enjoy ₵200 per day. With the common platform, you will only enjoy ₵100 you will not enjoy ₵200.
- “The second one which will excite them is that now when you send to a number or an account you own and you have updated both numbers with the Ghana card then you do not get to pay charges, if you have not done that you will be charged.
- “Those who operate as merchants, by merchant that means they receive payment for goods and services through one of these payment services providers. Now there is a third leg we are implementing which was not implemented during the first phase. Now, if the merchant is not registered with the GRA for income tax or VAT, then your customers are going to suffer e-levy.”
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While announcing the implementation of the e-levy, the Ghana Revenue Authority said that the levy would be implemented in a staggered manner beginning May 1.
This is in accordance with the findings of an evaluation conducted by the GRA to determine the general preparedness of various charging organizations to integrate with the E-Levy management system.
Despite its request for economic help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Finance Ministry has revealed that the government would not scrap the 1.5 percent tax on electronic transactions.
This was included in a statement issued by the Ministry on Tuesday, in response to important issues about the government’s continuous involvement with the Fund.
Regarding the contentious fee, the Ministry emphasized that the government would combine the levy’s earnings with IMF aid to save the economy.
In response to whether the levy would be eliminated, the Ministry said, “NO. The Ghana loan from the IMF will be used for balance of payments assistance (i.e. to shore up the international reserves).
“Government is committed to ensuring the smooth operationalisation of all taxes including the e-levy to ensure that in addition to the IMF’s resources, government can continue to support its developmental goals on its own while ensuring that tax-to-GPD ratio increases to the peer range of 16%-18%”.
SOURCE: myjoyonline
