THEME : Your tax returns - A fair way of accessing Your income to tax                                                                                                                                                      

PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is organizing a series of meetings with importers and freight forwarders to educate them on the Integration of the 1% Withholding Tax paid to the IRS at the ports, borders and entry points to ensure a smooth integration onto the GCNet Collection System.                                                                                                                                                     

MEETINGS

DATE: Mon. 14th April, 2008

TOWN: Tema

VENUE: J.S.K. Arthur Conference Hall,Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) Secretariat Harbour Area-Tema

TIME: 10am-12noon

DATE: Tue. 15th April, 2008

TOWN: Accra

VENUE: G.I.F.F Conference Hall Kotoka Int. Airport

TIME: 10am - 12noon

DATE: Thurs. 17th April, 2008

TOWN: Takoradi

VENUE: Main Conference Hall, Ghana Shippers Council Harbour Area, Takoradi

TIME: 10am-12noon

DATE: Fri. 18th April, 2008

TOWN: Elubo

VENUE: CEPS Building, Elubo

TIME: 10am-12noon

DATE: Wed. 23rd April, 2008

TOWN: Denu/Aflao

VENUE: Hotel Makavo, Aflao

TIME: 10am-12noon

The Internal Revenue Service(IRS) wishes to state categorically that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue has the responsibility under the Law to ensure that all income tax revenue due to the State is collected and properly accounted for. Consequently, the Tax Law grants the Commissioner certain powers for the efficient performance of this function.                                                                                                                                                     

It is in the exercise of these powers that the Commissioner initiated the audit of the Golden Gate Services Ltd as correctly stated in the news story. Following the audit, a tax liability was established. It is therefore inconceivable that IRS will encourage tax evasion by the company.

It is a fact that some companies/taxpayers run into liquidity problems but work hard to regain their financial health and discharge their obligations to the tax authorities. Tax administrators would rather allow such companies to recover, continue to provide employment and pay taxes due to the State than force them into liquidation.

The Tax Law allows taxpayers in arrears to enter into satisfactory arrangement with the Tax Office in order to obtain Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) for business purposes.

We assure the public that the so-called “abuse of discretionary powers” by the Commissioner of IRS was nothing more than an arrangement with the Company to enable it discharge its tax obligation. There are no “underhand dealing and deliberate cover-up of a massive tax evasion” on the part of the Internal Revenue Service. No law has been breached and therefore the INTEGRITY of the Service is intact. If further steps are thought necessary, the procedure outlined in the Law will be used.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will celebrate the Fourth (4th) Revenue Week from Thursday 24th April to Wednesday 30th April 2008. The Revenue Week has been timed to co-incide with the last week for the filing of tax returns. The Internal Revenue Act 2000, Act 592 charges all income earners to file their tax returns for the previous Year of Assessment by April 30th every year. The Revenue Week is thus celebrated to remind Ghanaians of the need to File Their Tax Returns.                                                                                                                                                     

The 2008 Revenue Week will be celebrated under the theme “Your Tax Returns – A Fair Way of Assessing Your Income to Tax”

A number of activities have been planned for the Week. - The Week will be launched with a press conference on Thursday 24th April, 2008. - Other activities include radio and television tax education, market tax education and enforcement of the tax stamp at various markets throughout the country. - .Tax seminars and features on aspects of taxation; - Donation to the Ghana Heart Foundation and Thanksgiving Services at selected churches in Accra and the other regional capitals.

The major activity of the Revenue Week is the Filing of Tax Returns on Wednesday 30th April, 2008 the last day for the filing of tax returns for the 2007 Year of Assessment.

The IRS urges all income earners to file their tax returns . It is expected that opinion leaders in society will file their tax returns to serve as example to others.

The IRS appeals to all income earners to cultivate the habit of paying their taxes promptly and file their tax returns by 30th April every year.

In 2006 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had cause to caution the public in a series of newspaper and radio advertisements about the activities of certain unscrupulous persons who are using the name of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to defraud unsuspecting Foreign Investors on the internet.                                                                                                                                                     

The fraudsters are now demanding payment of taxes and/or commissions on financial transactions with third parties in the name of both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Value Added Tax Service (VATS).

The two Revenue Agencies have noted with concern that the cyber fraud is now on the ascendancy and have indeed been extended to the VAT Service judging from complaints received by both Commissioners from persons who have fallen victim to this type of cyber fraud.

The Revenue Agencies ie IRS and VAT Service once more wishes to inform foreign investors and the public that such demand notices on the internet are NOT from the Revenue Agencies, and therefore they should not be entertained  let alone be acted upon.

The public especially foreign investors are advised to contact the Commissioners or Police when they receive such mails.

INTERNET FRAUD - GENERAL PUBLIC TO NOTE (30-01-2008)- By the Commissioner

It has come to the attention of the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service that certian unscrupulous persons are using the name of the Service to defraud unsuspecting individuals on the internet.

The fraudsters demand payment of taxes and/or commissions on financial transactions with third parties in the name of Internal Revenue Service.

The Service wishes to educate the public that such demand notices on the internet are not from the Service and as such they should desist from dealing with these unpatriotic persons.

The General Public is advised to contact the Commissioner or the Police when they receive such e-mails.