The Ghana Revenue Authority is undertaking a closure of malls over violation of the Authority’s directive to fix an electronic VAT invoicing system.
The authority began this exercise on Monday closing down China mall branches in Spintex and Ashaiman. The move is to see to the collection of taxes from businesses and ensure that businesses are not under-declaring taxes.
The VAT system has been a significant tool used by the authority over the years for tax collection which has been enhanced electronically and going contrary to payment of taxes is in violation of the laws of the country.
The Area Enforcement Manager led the team in locking up Palace Mall on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Palace mall branches In Labone, Spintex, Atomic roundabout and Weija were affected.
The Electronic VAT system was introduced on October 1, 2022 to block leakages in revenue collection in an era where government is struggling to meet its revenue target.
A number of selected shops are failing to issue VAT invoices electronically whenever customers patronize their goods, GRA explained.
The authority explained that failure of these shops to comply by the directive sends signals that they are under-declaring tax which Is unacceptable.
The Area Endorsement Manager of GRA, Joseph Annan, in a media interview after the closure warned managers of the shops not to tamper with the Commissioner’s seal. He added that though locks may not have been used but tampering with the seal Is also In gross violation which comes with stiffer punishment.
