GRA to Launch Year-Round National Tax Education Strategy to Boost Voluntary Compliance
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is set to introduce a year-round National Tax Education Strategy as part of measures to improve voluntary compliance and foster a more collaborative relationship with taxpayers.
Speaking during a recent X-Space discussion on the theme “Resetting Ghana’s Revenue Mobilization”, co-hosted by The High Street Journal, NorvanReports, and IMANI Ghana, Acting Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, underscored the Authority’s ongoing transformation into a customer-centric tax administration.
“We have set ourselves that we want to be a customer-centric tax administration. That means we are looking at the taxpayer as our customer and dealing with them in a manner that ensures it’s cordial, convenient, and supports the partnership that we have,” he stated.
According to Mr. Sarpong, the GRA has already taken steps in that direction by establishing a dedicated customer service unit and organising annual conferences that bring together individuals and businesses to enhance taxpayer education.
He revealed that the Authority’s annual April tax education campaign will now be expanded into a sustained year-long initiative dubbed the National Tax Education Strategy. The objective, he noted, is to deepen awareness and understanding of civic responsibilities among taxpayers.
“When people are educated and they understand their civic responsibilities, the chances are that they will voluntarily comply,” he said. “If people don’t understand, then that’s where the issue is.”
Mr. Sarpong further indicated that improved tax compliance could have broader fiscal policy implications, including the potential reduction in tax rates.
“As we have more people paying their taxes, it gives the opportunity from a policy point of view to look at tax rates in the future. If all of us are contributing what we need to contribute, then we can have the conversations about bringing down the tax rate and making it more affordable,” he explained.
On enforcement, he emphasised that the GRA is shifting from a punitive approach to one that supports and partners with businesses. He noted that for taxpayers facing genuine financial constraints, the law allows for payment arrangements that enable them to settle their tax obligations over a period.
“We will not approach in a sense of disrupting businesses, but we’ll approach in a sense of partnering and supporting businesses,” he added.
The GRA’s focus on education, partnership, and flexibility, according to the Acting Commissioner-General, is aimed at building trust and enhancing revenue mobilization without placing undue strain on businesses and individuals.
