Individuals need to file their tax returns

Earlier this week, I went to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to apply for a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) and I was surprised to know that all this while, I, like many other formal sector workers whose income taxes are deducted at source, have been flouting the Tax Regulation.

Apparently, we have been guilty of not filing the individual tax returns as required by law.

Per the Tax Regulations on individual taxes, employers are required to file monthly pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) returns within 15 days after the end of the month.

In addition, employers are required to file a return of income for all their employees working in Ghana not later than March 31, following the end of every year of assessment.

A return of income should be filed with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) within four months after the end of a person's basis period.

Apart from the employer doing this on behalf of the employee, the employee also has a personal responsibility to ensure that the tax returns are filed via the GRA Portal at the end of the year and failure to do so attracts a stiff penalty. However, that has not been happening, at least from my experience.

I have always assumed that once my employer files my taxes on my behalf, I have been complying with the regulations, at least, until I had need for a TCC and applied for it.

Thankfully, the officers at the GRA office were kind enough to not only educate me, but also take me through the processes to file my tax returns, and it was a shock when I was given the penalty that had accrued in my name.

Though I was considered and that penalty was waived, that may not be the case every day or for everyone.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse and we should not wait to be caught in such a situation.

Please, as workers, let us not take things for granted, but get the education and information with regard to such regulations and ensure that we comply, to spare us the inconvenience of paying unbudgeted-for penalties.

I will like to use this medium to commend the GRA officers who helped me out.

Rosalind K. Amoh
Adenta
Accra.