By: Mercy Darko
The Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA, has launched three electronic systems to enhance tax compliance.
The systems are the Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate, Online Return Filing and the GRA Tax Compliance Short Code *880#.
These platforms will help taxpayers file their tax returns and receive their electronic certificate.
The Short code on the other hand will help tax payers scan their tax records and know their tax status.
Speaking at the launch of the platforms in Accra, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said “digitization is a way to go as it will enhance efficiency in service delivery”.
While appealing to taxpayers to use these platforms as it is an important tool for tax compliance, Vice President Bawumia also impressed on GRA to “widen the tax net and bring on board those who are not tax compliant”.
The Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate, E-TCC is a document issued by the Commissioner-General to confirm that that a tax payer is up to date with any tax payments and has met all applicable tax obligations at the date of issue.
The pilot phase of this electronic system began in October 2023.
The electronic certificate will replace the manual filing of taxes and receipt of certificates which is characterised by long queues and delays during peak periods.
To this end, taxpayers can now sit in the comfort of their homes to pay their taxes and be issued with the electronic tax clearance certificate.
Vice President Bawumia said the government is building systems that “will make doing business less cumbersome, and it is the civic responsibility of all to pay their taxes”, as it is need for development.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta lauded the Ghana Revenue Authority for “leveraging on technology to make tax filing easier for taxpayers”.
In a remark, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu indicated that the electronic platform will among other things, “eliminate delays in acquiring tax certificates while ensuring that customers are not issued fake tax clearance certificates.”
He stressed that the GRA has also put in place other measures to enhance revenue mobilization. Taxpayers can log onto www.taxpayersportal.com to sign up.
