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IRS launches revenue collection task force
Accra, July 16, Ghanadot/GNA - A 32-member revenue
mobilization tasked force constituted by the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) to collect taxes from defaulters was
on Monday inaugurated in Accra.
The task force, which would be replicated in other regions,
is mandated to use "coercive force" to collect revenue from
recalcitrant taxpayers.
Major (Rtd.) Daniel Abloh-Quarcoo, Commissioner of IRS, who
inaugurated the task force, said the exercise was to remind
taxpayers of their obligation to honour tax payment.
He noted that a series of demand notices, and even final
notices, had been served on clients to settle their tax
liabilities, but most of them did not oblige. IRC was
therefore left with no alternative than apply the law.
The Commissioner said there was no intention whatsoever to
cause harassment to anyone but to ensure that the law
governing payment of tax was adhered to by all manner of
people irrespective of who they were.
"Those who will prove too difficult in the course of this
exercise will be arraigned for prosecution," he warned.
Mr Ablorh-Quarcoo noted that the intention of the service
was to improve upon the revenue base of the country and
generate more revenue for government expenditure and other
recurrent costs.
It was also part of the education process to let people
understand the options applicable to the revenue service in
terms of revenue collection.
Mr Theophilus Gaskin, Coordinator of the Task Force, said
the measure was to maximise revenue collection for
socio-economic development.
He noted that the inability of developing countries to
enforce their tax laws had drastically reduced revenue,
thereby slackening economic growth.
"Ghana is no exception. The service is determined to reverse
this misfortune by improving on enforcement capability."
Mr Gaskin said last year, the task force's work yielded a
direct collection of GH¢ 3.291 million (32.913 billion cedis).
He said there was the need for revenue gathering departments
to be adequately equipped with armoury of coercive powers to
deal with recalcitrant defaulters.
Mr Gaskin called on the task force to be courageous and
demonstrate a high sense of commitment to enable them to
achieve much more success in this year's operation.
GNA
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