Businesses that pay 25% of their profits in corporate
taxes should expect to pay less from next year (2018).
The corporate tax is expected to
be reduced to twenty percent eventually.
It follows what the Finance Minister;
Ken Ofori Atta says is the consideration of reducing the tax in the 2018
budget.
This is also part of the tax cuts
which was key among the numerous promises by the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
ahead of the 2016 general elections.
Mr. Ken Ofori Atta maintains that
diversifying tax revenue streams should prevent the
overconcentration on Corporate Income Taxes (CIT).
“How do you then tap enough
people to contribute so that you do not need to focus on corporate income tax
as a main source of revenue…We are considering reduction in a number of taxes
and the Corporate Income Tax is one of them,” he explained.
In the government’s first budget,
eleven taxes which were viewed as nuisance; were slashed.
In addition, four others were
reviewed downwards in a bid to relieve the plight of taxpayers and ensuring
equity.
Meanwhile Mr. Ken Ofori Atta has
disclosed to Citi Business News his outfit will embark on an effort to
renew the revenue collection from property taxes.
This he also believes will be
highly achieved with the implementation of the national ID system.
“We are clear on the philosophy
of taxes which is to reduce taxes to create economic spaces for people to
operate…a corollary of that is also being able to expand the tax net and that
is where the national ID becomes an important instrument,” he asserted.
Mr. Ofori Atta added, “For
example our property tax system is non-existent and that is an area that we
intend to look at. But our mission more will be to reduce the import of taxes
on productive sectors of the economy.”
–Source: Citifm Online
By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
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