Parliament has unanimously approved a total amount of GH¢1,206,240,000 for the Ghana Revenue Authority for the 2019 financial year.
The approved budget allocation for 2019 is expected to cover capital expenditure, employees compensation, goods and services, and the Third Strategic Plan Implementation Cost.
Presenting the report on the Authority’s 2019 Budget Estimates by the Chairman for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah, he stated that compensation of employees by the Authority has been allotted a total amount of GH¢803,030,000, representing 66 percent of the total budget allocation.
On goods and services, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah pointed out that the Authority has been allotted an amount of GH¢249,390,000, representing 21 percent of the total budget allocation.
Dr. Assibey-Yeboah further explained that capital expenditure on the other hand, is expected to cover an amount of GH¢141,310,000 by the Authority in 2019, representing 12 percent out of the total budget allocation.
Dr. Assibey-Yeboah again indicated that the Third Strategic Plan Implementation Cost of the Authority is also expected to cover an amount of GH¢12,510,000, representing 1 percent of the total budget allocation.
Allocations to divisions of the Authority
Under the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Commissioner-General’s offices have been allotted a total amount of GH¢83,173,092.35 for its operations.
The Support Services Division of GRA has been allotted a total amount of GH¢310,089,123.30 for its administrative work.
The Domestic Tax Revenue Division has been allotted a total amount of GH¢365,433,769.50 for its operations while the Customs Division of the Authority has been allotted a total amount of GH¢435,037,274.85.
2019 policy initiative by the Authority
In the year 2019, the Authority will implement the use of the Electronic Point of Sales Device (EPOS) by taxpayers and ensure the development and use of the Integrated Tax Preparation Software (iTaps) by taxpayers.
The iTaps will offer a full complement of Tax Returns Preparation and Tax Certificates Verification for individuals and corporate entities.
The Authority will again, pursue a roll-out of the Ghana Revenue Enhancement and Transformation (GREAT), to change GRA’s system by simplifying revenue processes to and introducing innovations for revenue mobilisation.
The Authority in 2019 aims to improve compliance and enforcement of revenue laws relating to transit goods.
The Authority will also review the existing tracking systems, Satellite Tracking Unit (STU) and e-Track, while installing more Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at strategic places, and clearance terminals to monitor examination and movement of goods.
The GRA in 2019, proposes to widen the tax net using data matching through expanded deployment of National Service Personnel and the Nations Builders Corp (NABCo) personnel in the Revenue Ghana Module.
GRA Performance for 2018
For the period January to September 2018, the Ghana Revenue Authority collected revenue, amounting to GH¢25,995,400,000 as against a target of GH¢28,224,280,000.
This resulted in a negative deviation of GH¢2,228,880,000, representing 7.9 percent.
On expenditure, the Authority spent an amount of GH¢739,880,000 as against the budgeted amount of GH¢749,840,000.
This represent a positive variance of GH¢9,960,000, representing 1.3 percent for the same period.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
