The Commissioner General of the General Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Emmanuel Kofi Nti has revealed that his outfit is on the trail of preachers who flaunt their personal wealth.
According to him, the GRA charged with the task of assessing, collecting and accounting for tax revenue in Ghana is currently gathering financial intelligence on preachers who demonstrate that they possess a fleet of ostentatious cars and glitzy houses.
He said: "GRA thrives on intelligence, it's part of our job. Financial intelligence guides us in the work that we do and it's not everything that we do that we have to go out there making noise about them but then, those who demonstrate that they are having some posh houses and are having a number of... A pool of cars in their homes and they are prophets, we are trailing them and we are after them.
"And a time will come when we will be able to say look, maybe we went after an Angel, we went after an Apostle, we went after a prophet and the rest and we are at them," Mr Nti warned.
Mr Nti explained that, although the tithes and offerings collected by churches from congregants are exempted, their business activities are subject to taxing regime.
According to him, business transactions involving churches including construction contracts are subject to withholding taxes.
He stated: "To the extent that a church gets itself involved in a business transaction or in business, the business is subject to tax. And when there arestaff of the offices of a church, the church workers are like every other worker at any other place.
"They are subject to payee deduction and social security contribution and the church like any other organisation when it gives a construct job... a contracting job for a construction work, it is supposed to withhold tax and then remit to the GRA.
"When it comes to their tithes and offerings, those areas we believe they are no-go areas for the GRA and that one is understandable. Outside of that the church is treated like any other person".
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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Get a Toyota highlander ,get real estate estimator we already know base price of land in various areas ,1 IRS guy and 1 well armed police man .Get real estate estimator good camera.let them estimate property with Ghana gps and pictures.Let start Accra then spread.Good real estate tax is the way to go.Barren land in prestige area titled or non titled should pay GH 50. And land other 20.It should go with ghana land gps. And payment does not mean you are legitimate owner of land.For now Ghana needs money to develop.
i support you 100% AMA, the government should charge the sale of miracle as well because a pastor took my friends newly imported benz car as the thanks given offering God require. Today churches. hmmmmmm
this is really in the right direction, they should tax the sale of miracle too. some charge as as a house for the sale of miracle
This is in the right direction please let no one bring politics in the proposal. We must all contribute to the growth of our economy by way of our tax obligations