Parents whose children have been enrolled under the Free Senior High School (SHS) risked being exempted from the Policy from September 2019 if they failed to register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
Additionally, they would not be able to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme, acquire a passport, register their vehicles and land, open bank account and access other public services.
Mr Anthony Selom Dzadzra, a Director at the Revenue Policy Division, Ministry of Finance, told the Ghana News Agency on the side-lines of a Post-Budget Sensitisation workshop for journalists in Accra on Monday.
He said the Directive was outlined in the 2019 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government.
In that regard, he said, every citizen that wanted to transact business with any government institution and access other social interventions must acquire a TIN to facilitate that process.
Mr Dzadzra said the enforcement of the Directive would enable the Government to generate sufficient revenue to propel its infrastructural development agenda.
'For us to go Ghana beyond Aid, we have to generate revenue in this country and everybody needs to pay a little tax. Therefore, one of the ways of realising this is to make sure everybody is known through the TIN,'' he said.
'This will enable the Revenue Authorities to easily identify taxpayers and those who have not been captured under the tax net.'
Mr Dzadzra noted that the long-term vision of government is to reduce import taxes so that manufacturing companies can import machinery to increase production.
This, according to him, would enable manufacturing firms to expand their businesses and employ more people.
He said government could then take direct and indirect taxes from the firms in addition to the income taxes from workers to shore up its revenue.
He said it was prudent for companies that gave commercial loans to government to pay consumption taxes, which would serve as means to streamline the tax exemption regime.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, presenting the 2019 Budget Statement to Parliament on November 15, outlined six priority areas of Government.
They are Agriculture, Industry, Infrastructural Development, Entrepreneurial Support, Revenue Mobilization, Protecting the Public Purse and Social Partnership.
Government has projected to spend GH¢73.4 billion in the 2019 Budget and mobilise GH¢58.7 billion in revenues through taxes and levies.
Source: GNA
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Peacefmonline, the minister of education has furiously denied this in parliament. Why bring it up at your website? Parliament has not given approval for this sort of arrangement, the minister asserted and castigated the minority mp who brought it up that he should have known better. Why this propaganda? Why is the NDC and some hired journalists bent on destroying this noble and social intervention programme? Sha*me unto you.
@thinker Listen to yourself. Anyone who reads your message will use that word for you.
So one get TIN then what, even big companies that have registered for VAT are not paying. Why didn't they campaign on that lines THAT NO TIN NO FREE SHS. ***barred word*** government. SO NOW FREE IS NOT FREE AGAIN
In America and many other countries, you can be uniquely identified by your TIN, Social Security Number or your Driver's License(State ID). Do you think you dont have to pay any tax. Well, every year you have to file your tax in America. It is up to the government to decide if you dont have to pay tax.
This is the most brilliant idea ever to expand the tax net. I have always been wondering how widening the tax net can be achieved. Kudos. it is just brilliant. If you are a citizen, even your one cedi as personal income tax will make you value social interventions such as the NHIS and free shs. Meanwhile, good awareness creation and education must start now if we are to achieve our set targets for the next budget cycle. Involve the NABCO people in the awareness drive. I pray it is not just talk,talk, talk. God bless Ghana
@ First lady elect, she need it for tax payment. It is an obligation for every citizen to pay their fair share of taxes. Ketewa bia ensoa they say. We expect our governments to do so much but hate the mention of taxes, why??
Lets us all support this drive to support the government agenda in develop mother Ghana. TIN IT IS A MUST FOR EVERY GHANAIAN AS IT IS ALL PLACES IN THE WORLD OVER. PUT DIRTY POLITICS ASIDE
Is this gentleman or government in their right senses. How can you just open your big mouth and say without TIN no free SHS. You C.R.A.Z.E.E.E.E
Look at another Ofuuuiii who has been responding to intelligent post without providing his 'name'. What do you mean I have not traveled before? What has traveling got to do with the subject under discussion. Then tell your inept government that you've traveled and seen train plying underground so Ghana should also do same now, now. Kwaadonto!
Those who have not traveled before make the most noise and display their ignorance. Everyone needs a TIN in the world. Tax evasion is a criminal offence.