Operationalisation of property tax collection platform kickstarts March ending – GRA boss
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is set to launch a new common platform for the collection of property tax rates in the country, which is expected to improve efficiency and centralise the process of tax collection. The platform, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of March, will be overseen by the GRA, and will take over the responsibility of collecting property tax rates from the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Authorities.
According to the Commissioner General of the GRA, Reverend Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the move to centralise the collection of property tax rates was necessary due to the lack of effectiveness of the current system. The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Authorities had been struggling to collect property tax rates, which are used to finance their activities.
Under the new regime, only 30% of property rates collected by the service provider through the common platform will be remitted to the assemblies, while the remaining 70% will be shared among the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Finance Ministry and the service provider. This move is expected to provide greater accountability and transparency in the tax collection process.
The new platform is also expected to encourage property owners to update their records with any additional properties they may have, making the process of tax collection more efficient. The system will allow for the easy identification of properties and the generation of applicable rates, which differ from area to area. Property owners will be advised of their rate and can pay in advance, even if their applicable rate has not yet been generated. When the rates are updated, property owners will receive the right figure for their property rate.
The move towards a more centralised tax collection system is in line with global best practices, and is expected to enhance the revenue collection capacity of the GRA. The new regime is also expected to provide greater clarity and certainty for property owners in relation to their tax obligations.
The launch of the new platform is a significant step towards improving the tax collection system in Ghana. The GRA is committed to ensuring that the platform is fully operational by the end of March, and has urged property owners to use the new system for all property rate payments for the year. The implementation of this new system is expected to drive greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in the collection of property tax rates in Ghana.
