Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 10, 2013 News
– plastic Driver’s Licence from this year
Despite significant disruptions, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) last year still managed to surpass the 2011 collections by $5B.
According to Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, the collection of $116B included significant increases of taxes from self-employed, a long-standing problematic area.
Government would be more than happy after a month-long protest in Linden caused the shutdown of several hinterland communities, badly affecting gold mining and logging operations and trade with Brazil.
Speaking with the state-owned news agency, Sattaur noted, however, that the revenue collection is not the only indicator by which the GRA measures its performance.
Providing efficient service to the public, being able to deal with quite a number of issues, having to grapple with the daily flow of goods that accumulate on the wharves and having to clear them in a timely manner, are some of the major issues the GRA also has to deal with.
Sattaur observed that the fact that Guyana is still experiencing some amount of brain drain from migration, has in no small manner affected the organisation and its capability.
Nevertheless, he commended the hard work of the GRA staff which enabled the body to overcome many of the obstacles and made them very optimistic that it would pay off the right amount of dividends for the GRA and Guyana.
According to the tax boss, one major encouragement for GRA last year was the sense of accomplishment when the new building located in Camp Street became available for occupancy and the process commenced to house the entire operations of the GRA under one roof.
While there was discussion in the National Assembly on whether funds should continue to be provided for its outfitting, the GRA boss said there was a significant amount of work that had to be done.
The installation of clean power, computers and staff accommodation, he explained would require a significant amount of outlay to accommodate approximately 750 staff members at the end of the exercise.
The building will house the Legal Department, Remission Unit, Planning and Analysis Unit, Human Resource Department, Finance Department, Facilities Management, Customs Operations, Income Tax Department, VAT Department and Licence and Revenue Department.
Bringing all the departments into a single building at one location would lead to more efficient services, as well as ease of access for the taxpayers.
Tax evasion
Regarding the issue of tax evasion, Sattaur said that half of Guyana’s taxpayers comply voluntarily and meet their commitments without cheating. Efforts sometimes have to be made to force the non-compliant into complying, he said. Behind the scenes, the Audit Department would examine assets compared to income, he added.
The targets are big buildings and their owners, and persons who may not have submitted fair returns or failed to submit any. The Debt Management Unit also serves as an enforcement of the agency and targets evaders of Customs duties and VAT.
The agency’s head noted that persons who do not issue receipts to customers are not accounting for VAT, and reports to the Legal Department would enable the enforcement of the law against those businesses who refuse to pay by adopting this method of business.
However, enforcement activities have been successful and are reflected in the increased revenue collected. While concerned about the shortage of human resources, Sattaur said that media educational programmes have contributed greatly towards enforcement and in encouraging compliance.
Regarding claims by the political Opposition that some government agencies and persons who were ‘friends of the Government’ were not paying taxes; Sattaur insisted that all taxpayers are treated fairly and justly and that there is no discrimination. “All are put under the radar, Government or otherwise,’ he declared.
None untouched
However, with limited resources, he acknowledged that there may be the perception that the GRA does not go after those persons. That doesn’t mean that the body will not. Sattaur explained, also, that while the Intelligence unit gathers information, informers also report to the GRA and records from business activities, ownership of vehicles, purchase of houses and assets are all processed by the relevant departments while the Debt Management Department takes care of the delinquent taxpayers.
The container scanner has been a major success during 2012 according to Sattaur, and its acceptance level is very high in the business community. This, he noted, has led to the detection of cocaine and false declaration of goods, among other things.
Nevertheless, with in excess of 5,000 containers entering the country each month, a risk management process determines which container is scanned. A request has been submitted for an additional scanner.
Tax rebate refunds were made to persons who are subject to PAYE deductions. The GRA is committed to clearing up those arrears which amount to in excess of $600M to pay to more than 72,000 taxpayers. This exercise is expected to be completed before the end of this month.
Reviews are currently ongoing on investors who were granted tax holidays and exemptions. Post audit verification is being conducted on their status.
If those companies are not performing or conducting business as they had initially indicated, their exemptions would be stalled until the investor complies.
Meanwhile, last year also saw the establishment of a monitoring secretariat to bring together the major domestic players of the US$840M Amaila Falls Hydro project. This unit, chaired by President Donald Ramotar, is given administrative support from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).
According to Sattaur, as the largest investment in Guyana, the project will see hundreds of millions of American dollars in imports arriving by sea and having to be cleared and transported to the site at Amaila Falls.
Thus the GRA’s mandate will be carried out to ensure that all is above board.
Also this year GRA is moving to replace the decades-old book-format of drivers’ licences. Plastic card IDs will be used instead.
Additionally, motor vehicle owners will now be able to renew their licences on the anniversary of the vehicle registration.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 23, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – Over the weekend, the prestigious Lusignan Golf Club played host to the highly anticipated AMCHAM Golf Tournament, drawing golf enthusiasts and professionals alike from across...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]