Up-front tax implementation: We were not consulted – clearing agents at the Tema port cry out

Some clearing agents working at the Tema harbor have complained about the swift introduction of an up-front tax on their activities at the port.

Speaking to a clearing agent on condition of anonymity on Plan B FM morning show NKOSUONSEM with Nana Yaw Abrompah, he said, the Up-front tax was introduced without any proper information and it is impacting their work negatively making importers having trust issues with them.

“With such issues at hand now, I will encourage or advise any importer to look for a well-established agent office before importing because there are a lot of ‘goro’ boys who will capitalize on that and dupe them” he stated

Meanwhile, The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on June 6 this year begin implementing a new tax compliance tool referred to as the Upfront Payment of Value Added Tax (VAT).

The upfront VAT payment, according to the GRA, is not a new tax but a compliance tool – which law was passed last year, 2022, in the VAT amendment Act (Act 1082) that requires charging an additional 12.5 percent on the Customs value of goods imported by businesses which are mandated to register for VAT but have failed to do so.