The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has promised to introduce a tax digitalisation system when elected into office.

This system will allow all business owners to file tax returns electronically, either using their mobile phones or computers and eliminate the cumbersome nature of filing tax returns manually.

Addressing the citizens on Wednesday, February 7, Dr Bawumia opines that this will enable people to freely file their taxes without pressure and allow for a lot more transparency.

“Tax digitalisation will be implemented across all aspects of tax administration. Everyone will be required to file a very simple tax return electronically through their mobile phone or computer.

"There will be no manual or paper filing of taxes from 2025. Faceless assessments will provide transparency and accountability,” he said.

The Vice President argued that with the current system, officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) visit businesses and sit in the shops to monitor sales, which he said is very uncomfortable for traders.

He argued that with the new tax approach, everyone files their tax returns, thereby reducing the burden on both GRA officials and business owners.

Also, he said any audits by the GRA will be moved online.

He stressed that to make the system more convenient for everyone, no institution will be audited more than five times a year unless anomalies are detected.

“Furthermore, no entity would be audited more than once in five years unless anomalies are detected which the individual or company does not correct after being given the opportunity to do so,” he added.

Also, Dr Bawumia said in instances where there are disputes about tax assessment, he said an arbitration body would be established, consisting of individuals from reputable institutions, to establish a court to resolve the matter rather than relying on international jurisdictions.

“We will amend the law such that if there is a dispute about tax assessment, binding arbitration will take place through a body constituted by institutions such as the Ghana Arbitration Center, Institute of Taxation, AGI, Institute of Chartered Accountants, PEF, and Ghana EmployersAssociation with a mandate to resolve any appeal in a maximum of three months. 

"This will not affect companies who, by their agreements, have such arbitrations taking place in international jurisdictions," he added.