Twelve Accra business operators have been arrested by the Ghana Revenue Authority for allegedly failing to issue VAT invoices to their customers.
The 12 businesses are Hansen Decor (selective issuance), Boost Electronics (non-issuance), De’Lish Restaurant (own issuance), Heiress and Flair (own issuance), Relay Express (non-issuance), and Julie-Joan (non-issuance), and House of Fabrics (non-issuance).
The rest are Done Chebe Kreations (non-issue), Fresh Angels ala Suit Republic (non-issuance), Gifred Enterprise (selective issue), Milan Star Fabrics (not registered), and About Office Ghana (non-issuance).
Ghana Revenue Authority’s Accra Central Area Enforcement Unit arrested the 12 new businesses for breaches, including failed invoice issuance and selective issuance.
He explained that the operators’ actions were in violation of Section 41 of the VAT Act, which requires registered businesses to issue VAT invoices at all times.
He stated that the arrested individuals would be turned over to police, investigated, and charged for their actions.
Mr. Annan stated that officers from the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department would take the statements of those arrested, after which the preemptive assessment would be established and the businesses would be required to pay immediately.
He explained that the GRA’s Legal Department was steadily compiling prosecution dockets for all of the arrested business operators in preparation for prosecution to begin.
He stressed that the GRA will continue to embark on the exercise to ensure that businesses comply with the law and issue Value Added Tax (VAT) invoices to their customers.
Some businesses are aware of the law but are reluctant to act. The GRA enforces tax laws, administering VAT and other tax types, he added.
”We are going to continue this through and through; we will never end because that is why we are being paid. We have been paid to work, so we will never get tired. So long as we remain GRA staff, we will continue to do the needful, which is making sure that we educate and also enforce the law.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
