Gov’t to broaden tax net, rope in more people

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The president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is unhappy with the low numbers of people who pay taxes in the country.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, he said moves are being made to broaden the tax base and rope in more people.

“Less than six percent of our people are part of the taxpaying population of our country. 1.5 million pay tax in Ghana in a population of 30 million people.

“That is an unacceptable set of figures. But it is feasible because the state itself doesn’t have the capacity to be able to make sure that all those who should be in the tax net are in the tax net,” the president said at a conference in South African last week.

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The president’s comments come as the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta prepares to present the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government for 2019 this week.

As part of measures to raise more revenue to meet its revenue target for the 2018 fiscal year, government introduced a new known as the high net worth income tax.

In line with the new tax, the government said it will charge 35 percent on incomes that are over ¢10,000.

According to the Finance Minister, the new high net-worth income tax is needed to make the rates charged in the country more equitable.

This, he also added was in line with best practice around the world.

But it appears government wants more.

President Akufo-Addo says one of the major focuses of his government is how to broaden the tax net and absorb more people.