Value Added Tax Secretariat Begins Public Education Workshops

The value Added Tax (VAT) Secretariat has begun a workshop for lecturers of the Institute of Professional Studies near Legon. It forms part of the continuing education on the VAT for specialized groups and facilitators. A Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr.. John Mahama said at the opening ceremony that preparatary work is underway for the nation wide public education drive which will soon take off. Meanwhile, the date for ! implementing VAT has been shifted from January next year to a new date to be announced by the Ministry of Finance. Mr.. Mahama commented on some misconceptions in the media concerning the value Added Tax. He said increased revenue from the VAT will not come from an increase in tax payment per capital as is being alleged by some people but rather from the widening of the tax base. On concerns by people who have advocated cuts in government expenditure before the reintroduction of VAT, Mr.. Mahama explained that cuts in government expenditure and increased revenue from VAT, are not mutually exclusive and that the ideal situation will be for a fair mix of both. He said the government is working hard to eliminate waste, and guidelines will soon be released for dealing with issues raised in the Auditor-Generals report.

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