The Ghana Telecommunications Chamber has dismissed claims that the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Chamber have begun processes to implement the 1.5% Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy).
According to the CEO of the Chamber, Ken Ashibey, the outfit has not yet had full details of the E-levy Act after its passage to effect any implementation.
“It was only preparatory engagements that were being done and not as if anybody is implementing anything. What Parliament passes is what becomes law. In terms of the engagements we had with GRA, that was the spirit of the fact that the Bill was before Parliament. Since we had those initial conversations, there hasn’t been any implementation.”
“I have not seen the Bill that has been passed, so we have not seen the date there, so it will depend on what the GRA directs for our members to follow and configure their systems. So, there is still a lot to be done, and we are still waiting”, he said.
Mr Ashigbey's clarification comes after Mahama Ayariga alleged that the two institutions have already started the processes to charge the tax.
He subsequently asked them to put it on hold until the Supreme Court makes a decision on the Minority’s suit challenging the passage of the levy.
Meanwhile, government expects systems that will pave the way for the implementation of the E-levy to be ready by May 2022.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who disclosed this, said there have been discussions with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and the Ghana Revenue Authority to this effect.
“We had some meetings with the Controller General and GRA, and they have indicated to us that right at the beginning of May, they should be able to get the systems altogether,” he noted.
E-Levy
The Finance Minister, when presenting the 2022 budget on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, announced that the government intends to charge 1.75% on the value of electronic transactions.
It covers mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances. There is an exemption for transactions up to GH¢100 per day.
According to him, the tax policy will “widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector.”
Initially, the proposed levy was to come into effect in January 2022; however, it took until the end of March for the levy to be laid in Parliament for consideration.
Parliament subsequently passed it in the absence of the Minority MPs, who had staged a walked out before the question was posed for the approval of the BIll.
The Minority has since filed a case at the Supreme Court questioning the legitimacy of the approved Bill.
The plaintiffs are arguing that Parliament did not have the right numbers to form a quorum for the passage of the E-levy Bill into law.
They thus want the passage declared void.
Latest Stories
-
World Public Relations Day Festival 2024 puts spotlight on AI, sustainability PR
5 mins -
Actress Gloria Sarfo recounts embarrassing moment with taxi driver
11 mins -
Procure Utility-Scale Solar Power Plant for security of the grid
14 mins -
Miss USA Noelia Voigt resigns title on mental health grounds
17 mins -
King has no time to see Prince Harry on UK visit due to ‘full programme’
20 mins -
Security guard shot at Drake’s Toronto home amid beef with Kendrick Lamar
24 mins -
NPA to engage Finance Ministry to consider removing taxes on LPG
32 mins -
Paris Olympics: 70 teams qualify for relay events
36 mins -
Passport e-gate outage causing delays at UK airports
39 mins -
Anti-corruption agencies from 21 African countries storm Ghana for conference
42 mins -
Farouk Aliu Mahama apologises for Citi FM reporter assault
46 mins -
Unilever pledges to remain committed to delivering profitability
47 mins -
”Nobody expected this’ – Hummels
51 mins -
T-bills: Interest rates tumbled again; government records 17% oversubscription
54 mins -
WAFU B U-17 AFCON: 14 referees named for competition
1 hour