GRA targets top 100 entity debtors in revenue collection

As part of pragmatic steps to recover the total debt stock of GH¢2.7 billion owed the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) by some business entities in the country, the Authority is targeting the top 100 debtors in the collection of the debt in a process that earlier began this week.

Last Wednesday, the officials of Debt Management, Compliance and Enforcement Unit of the GRA embarked on execution of distress warrant on some business entities in Accra in a move to collect outstanding debts owed them some since as far back as 2012.

The exercise led to the closure of Intelligent Metering and Energy Solutions – producer of electrical metres – for non-payment of taxes amounting to GH¢6.8 million which the entity has owed GRA since 2015. The debt consists of GH¢5.8 million Value Added Tax whiles the remaining are Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and interest.

According to the Authority, the decision was taken to close down Intelligent Metering and Energy Solutions as all efforts deployed to enable payment was not met. In response, the company insisted that the inability to fulfil their tax obligation lies squarely on the failure of their suppliers to pay what is due them.

The exercise took the team to Miklin Hotel who according to records, owe the GRA a total amount of GH¢2.8 million in taxes since 2017. To avoid closure, management of the hotel immediately arranged with their bankers to pay GH¢1 million – GH¢500,000 maturing today and the remaining payable next week Friday.

Speaking with the Goldstreet Business, Head of Debt Management, Compliance and Enforcement Unit of the GRA, Michael Sefa noted that officials of the hotel have agreed to meet the GRA today to have a scheduled plan on how to defray the remaining debt of GH¢1.8m.

“I have advised them that once the check bounces, they should lock the place and bring us the key. They shouldn’t wait for us to come and close it down”, he reiterated.

The last place the team visited was the Excel Courier Limited located at Trade Fair who owe close to GH¢10 million from 2012 to 2016. However, there was no official of the company to receive the warrant when the tax force got there.

The Authority is confident of collecting about GH¢1 billion at the end of the exercise. So far, the team has collected more than GH¢3.5 million as the remaining companies have initiated respective payment plan towards servicing the debt.