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Manual operations cause of delays
Accra, July 9, Ghanadot/GNA - Manual operations at the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the cause of the slow
process of crediting accounts of businesses with the
withholding tax that they pay during transactions, the
Commissioner of the Service, Major Daniel Sowa
Ablorh-Quarcoo, has stated.
Answering questions from members of the Association of Ghana
Industries (AGI) at their monthly luncheon in Accra, Major
Ablorh-Quarcoo noted that because the operations of the
Service had not been computerized yet, it took slightly
longer for staff to vet all documents to establish the
correct account position of businesses.
He said that instructions had been issued for clearance
certificates to be released in time to enable companies to
know their true tax positions.
The monthly luncheon was instituted to offer a platform for
members of the AGI to network among themselves and
stakeholders to discuss issues pertaining to industrial
development.
Major Ablorh-Quarcoo who gave his views on "The
Re-denomination and the Implications for IRS Operations,"
said the Service had taken steps to reflect the
re-denomination to establish the tax positions of companies.
He said the files of tax payers were closed at the end of
June this year and their balance converted to the new
currency.
However, the Service would accept cheques in the old format
during the transitional period, he said.
Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, President of AGI, said it was high time
tax laws were challenged in the courts.
He explained that this must not to be seen as an affront to
the tax authorities but rather a measure to test the
certainty of the country's tax laws.
According to him most businessmen did not resort to court to
solve their tax problems because of the slow legal process.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi urged the judiciary to set up fast-track tax
courts a to meet the needs of the business community.
GNA
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