JoyNews investigations have uncovered how some staff of the Ghana Revenue Authority aid businesses bidding for contracts to circumvent laid down procedures in the acquisition tax clearance certificates for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a paltry sum of \u00a21,500 officials are able to forge tax records for newly created companies without any evidence of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the knowledge of using the phony business company, the investigative reporter approached the GRA staff we have decided to call Maame to assist in the acquisition of a tax clearance certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She indicated that once I need a tax clearance certificate I will be required to make a deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA clearance certificate with the VAT record would cost you \u00a21,500,\u201d she explained.
She further gave an insight into how the syndicate works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are short of certificates, but, some offices have it. Those who work on that schedule, have hoarded it. That\u2019s why it costs that much,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She indicated that the reason why she couldn\u2019t get me a tax clearance certificate at her office is that \u2018it\u2019s a strict setting\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, I would use another office which is the Agbogbloshie GRA office which is lax to work on it for you,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In less than three days, my tax clearance certificate for barely a week old business was ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quick look at the document with the inscription \u2013 tax clearance certificate \u2013 and its values would pass off as authentic. But, every detail on it is forged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was prepared by GRA staff at Agbogbloshie office covering three years of assessment and VAT certificate. It reads\u2026 \u201cprovisionally not liable to tax, deposit \u00a2500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This should help the investigative team secure a government contract with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Edward Gyamerah, said a tax clearance certificate is a compliance tool that the GRA uses to ensure a taxpayer has complied with their tax obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce a tax clearance certificate is given to you, it means you have complied with your tax obligations to the state,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Touching on the JoyNews expose, he said once an individual registers a company, they are required to register with the Ghana Revenue Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce you have registered the company, you can put in a request for a tax clearance certificate to transact business,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He, however, indicated that it\u2019s fraudulent for a newly created company to be placed in a picture suggesting they have been paying tax when that\u2019s not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He indicated that they will investigate to establish how the tax clearance certificate was issued and \u201cif it\u2019s found out it was done fraudulently, sanctions will be applied to the tax officer and the company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source : MyJoyOnline<\/p>\n\n\n\n