Techiman tax office urges full compliance with filing and payment

Taxpayers in the Techiman Municipality have been urged to go beyond simply filing their tax returns and ensure timely payment as well. This call came fromBono East Regional Manager of the Techiman Taxpayer Service Center, Mr. Ekow Ampofo, during a recently held Tax and Good Governance Week celebration at the Bonokyempem Hall, under the theme “Helping You Get it Right.”

According to Mr. Ampofo, the session was originally scheduled for April but had to be postponed. Its purpose is to ensure that every taxpayer understands not only the obligation to file taxes, but also the importance of actually paying them to avoid unnecessary penalties and interest.

“We were supposed to carry out this exercise in April, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn’t. That is why we are here today. The purpose is to encourage every taxpayer to comply fully not just with filing returns, but also with paying taxes. Filing alone is not enough if payment doesn’t follow.

We are sensitizing taxpayers on the importance of filing and paying on time. If you fail to file, you incur penalties. If you delay payment, interest accrues. We want to help taxpayers avoid these issues by doing the right thing so we can all operate in harmony.” He said.

He explained that many people unknowingly incur avoidable costs simply because they miss deadlines or fail to follow up on the tax filing process. The outreach event also gave taxpayers the chance to ask questions and get clarity on specific issues they face.

Mr. Ekow Ampofo also touched on a less-known but crucial part of tax compliance registration interviews. These interviews, according to him help the tax office understand each taxpayer’s situation better and determine if they qualify for concessions or tax relief.

“This session also gave taxpayers the opportunity to ask questions related to taxation in Ghana, which is beneficial for all of us.

“Tax compliance begins with proper registration. During the registration process, we conduct interviews to understand your business activities. This is when we can determine whether you’re eligible for concessions or tax relief.

“For instance, if you’re a young entrepreneur and not married, you wouldn’t qualify for the marriage relief. But if you’re involved in tree crop farming, you could benefit from a tax concession for up to 10 years. However, we can only grant these benefits if you provide that information during the registration interview.

“Similarly, businesses located outside regional capitals, especially in rural areas are taxed differently from those in cities. If we don’t know where your business is located or what sector you’re in, we won’t be able to apply these tax benefits.” He disclosed

He warned that businesses risk overpaying taxes if they don’t provide the right information upfront. In some cases, eligible businesses could pay only 1% tax annually for several years but only if they go through the right channels.

“Without this knowledge, you might end up paying much more than you’re legally required to. For example, if your business qualifies for a five-year concession, you should be paying only 1% annually. If you’re unaware of this, you could be assessed at a much higher rate leading to excessive payments that may be difficult to correct later.” He stated

Source: Ghanaweb.mobi